By Jan Khaskheli, *Bhitai’s Urs celebrations begin amid tight security* - The News International - Karachi, Pakistan; Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Devotees of Sufi Poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai have started pouring in large numbers into the Bhit Shah Town in Matiari District to pay homage to the Sufi saint on his 267th annual Urs starting from January 19 (today). The arrangements for the three-day Urs have been finalised.
Assistant Manager Auqaf, Bhit Shah, Abdul Shakoor Bozdar, supervising the security arrangements of the Urs, said that they have identified three places where 20 closed- circuit television cameras will be installed to monitor the situation and avoid any untoward incident during the celebrations. He said that an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 people visit the shrine each year, while the local administration used to deploy at least 1,200 police personnel to maintain law and order situation during the Urs festival. But, this year, the mela committee and the town administration decided to deploy 2,400 policemen along with Ranger’s personnel, which will be deployed at the four entrances of the shrine to perform security duty.
Member of the mela committee Shams Jafrani informed this correspondent that this year the department has set up a unique Cultural Village where artisan communities will display their art work. The Cultural Village will open on the first day of the annual Urs. Besides, he said that a separate sitting with the renowned folklore writers and Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haque has been planned on the first day of the Urs. The writers will be presented awards and shields in recognition of their writings, creativity and texture of thoughts.
Secretary Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) and member mela committee Taj Joyo told The News that they have invited Sufi scholars of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa to attend the literary conference, which will commence on the second day of the Urs. Minister for Culture Sassui Palejo will preside over the literary event, while Provincial Minister Makhdoom Jamil Zaman will be the chief guest on the occasion, he added.
Executive Director Indus Foundation Hassan Dars stated that as part of the Urs celebrations, a horse race will also be held to entertain the devotees. He said that this year, Bhitai’s Urs will be unique as the mela committee has planned a number of sports and music events.
On the occasion of Bhitai’s annual Urs, the devotees also take part in a special tradition in which they tie small pieces of cloth to branches of Cappris deciduas locally called Kirir plant. The town administration also cleaned and renovated the old Karar Lake to beautify the area, which was once the source of inspiration for Bhitai.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
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Saturday, January 22, 2011
Urs Festival
Devotees of Sufi Poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai have started pouring in large numbers into the Bhit Shah Town in Matiari District to pay homage to the Sufi saint on his 267th annual Urs starting from January 19 (today). The arrangements for the three-day Urs have been finalised.
Assistant Manager Auqaf, Bhit Shah, Abdul Shakoor Bozdar, supervising the security arrangements of the Urs, said that they have identified three places where 20 closed- circuit television cameras will be installed to monitor the situation and avoid any untoward incident during the celebrations. He said that an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 people visit the shrine each year, while the local administration used to deploy at least 1,200 police personnel to maintain law and order situation during the Urs festival. But, this year, the mela committee and the town administration decided to deploy 2,400 policemen along with Ranger’s personnel, which will be deployed at the four entrances of the shrine to perform security duty.
Member of the mela committee Shams Jafrani informed this correspondent that this year the department has set up a unique Cultural Village where artisan communities will display their art work. The Cultural Village will open on the first day of the annual Urs. Besides, he said that a separate sitting with the renowned folklore writers and Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haque has been planned on the first day of the Urs. The writers will be presented awards and shields in recognition of their writings, creativity and texture of thoughts.
Secretary Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) and member mela committee Taj Joyo told The News that they have invited Sufi scholars of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa to attend the literary conference, which will commence on the second day of the Urs. Minister for Culture Sassui Palejo will preside over the literary event, while Provincial Minister Makhdoom Jamil Zaman will be the chief guest on the occasion, he added.
Executive Director Indus Foundation Hassan Dars stated that as part of the Urs celebrations, a horse race will also be held to entertain the devotees. He said that this year, Bhitai’s Urs will be unique as the mela committee has planned a number of sports and music events.
On the occasion of Bhitai’s annual Urs, the devotees also take part in a special tradition in which they tie small pieces of cloth to branches of Cappris deciduas locally called Kirir plant. The town administration also cleaned and renovated the old Karar Lake to beautify the area, which was once the source of inspiration for Bhitai.
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saints and shrines
By Jan Khaskheli, *Bhitai’s Urs celebrations begin amid tight security* - The News International - Karachi, Pakistan; Wednesday, January 19, 2011Devotees of Sufi Poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai have started pouring in large numbers into the Bhit Shah Town in Matiari District to pay homage to the Sufi saint on his 267th annual Urs starting from January 19 (today). The arrangements for the three-day Urs have been finalised.
Assistant Manager Auqaf, Bhit Shah, Abdul Shakoor Bozdar, supervising the security arrangements of the Urs, said that they have identified three places where 20 closed- circuit television cameras will be installed to monitor the situation and avoid any untoward incident during the celebrations. He said that an estimated 500,000 to 600,000 people visit the shrine each year, while the local administration used to deploy at least 1,200 police personnel to maintain law and order situation during the Urs festival. But, this year, the mela committee and the town administration decided to deploy 2,400 policemen along with Ranger’s personnel, which will be deployed at the four entrances of the shrine to perform security duty.
Member of the mela committee Shams Jafrani informed this correspondent that this year the department has set up a unique Cultural Village where artisan communities will display their art work. The Cultural Village will open on the first day of the annual Urs. Besides, he said that a separate sitting with the renowned folklore writers and Sindh Education Minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haque has been planned on the first day of the Urs. The writers will be presented awards and shields in recognition of their writings, creativity and texture of thoughts.
Secretary Sindhi Language Authority (SLA) and member mela committee Taj Joyo told The News that they have invited Sufi scholars of Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa to attend the literary conference, which will commence on the second day of the Urs. Minister for Culture Sassui Palejo will preside over the literary event, while Provincial Minister Makhdoom Jamil Zaman will be the chief guest on the occasion, he added.
Executive Director Indus Foundation Hassan Dars stated that as part of the Urs celebrations, a horse race will also be held to entertain the devotees. He said that this year, Bhitai’s Urs will be unique as the mela committee has planned a number of sports and music events.
On the occasion of Bhitai’s annual Urs, the devotees also take part in a special tradition in which they tie small pieces of cloth to branches of Cappris deciduas locally called Kirir plant. The town administration also cleaned and renovated the old Karar Lake to beautify the area, which was once the source of inspiration for Bhitai.
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