Sufi pilgrimage: Devotees unhappy with urs arrangements

Shah Shams Tabraiz’s 762nd urs ends in Multan.

MULTAN:

The three-day 762nd urs of Shah Shams Tabraiz ended here on Monday. Most of the visitors from across the country said they were dissatisfied with the arrangements.

More than 30,000 people attended the event despite rising temperatures. Tabraiz is most famous for promoting inter-faith and inter-sectarian harmony in the sub continent.

Tariq Abbas Shamsi, his current successor, had inaugurated the event by offering fateha and bathing the tomb with rose water. It was later showered with rose petals.

Shamsi also distributed sweets and opened a drinks stall for visitors.

Talking to The Express Tribune, he accused the Auqaf Department of their discriminatory behaviour in the maintenance and events of shrines.  The district government, he complained, allocated only Rs43,000 for the shrine management.

Naat recitation competitions were organised on the first day, followed by Sham-i-Qalandar that continued till the morning next.

Severeal local poets and religious scholars participated in the Sham-i-Qalandar.  Verses of Shah Shams Tabraiz were recited to pay him homage.

Civil Defence, Aufaq Department and Rescue 1122 had set up camps around the shrine to facilitate to the pilgrims. The shrine was provided uninterrupted electricity supply for the three-days.

Security was tight with 200 policemen deployed around the tomb.

Senior Superintend of Police Khurram Shakoor supervised the security arrangements. He said the area had been cordoned off for three days.

Separate walk-through gates were installed for men and women at the entrance.  Shakoor said CCTV cameras had also been installed at unannounced points.

Most of the visiting devotees were not satisfied with the arrangements.

Despite hot weather, most pilgrims had set up their tents around the shrine.

Miqdad Ali, one of the pilgrims, said that Shah Shams was soft for all sects and faiths.

Aun Abbas, another devotee, regretted the administration’s negligence towards Shah Shams’s shrine. He said, “A clear difference can be seen between the wavering standards of administration here and those at the Bahauddin Zakariya and Shah Rukhne Alam urs.

Auqaf Administrator Mehmoodul Hasan told The Express Tribune that the department had put all its efforts to organise the event within the available resources. He said police, the district government and the Auqaf Department had worked together to facilitate the devotees. The last day was marked by prayers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2013.