A devotee performing the dhamal at the Data Darbar ahead of the urs on Monday. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS
The three-day celebration of the 972nd urs of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Al Hajveri, known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh, will start on Tuesday (today).
Minister for Finance and Data Darbar Religious Affairs Committee Chairman Ishaq Dar and Auqaf and Religious Affairs Minister Atta Muhammad Maneka will inaugurate the urs by laying a chaddar at the tomb of Data Sahib’s grave. The distribution of sabeel will start at 11:30am.
Data Darbar Administrator Dr Noor Awan said the government had allocated Rs9 million to organise the urs. He said special security arrangements had been made and adjoining roads had been cordoned off with containers and razor wires. Security officials have been deputed on roof tops. Five-tier security measures have been taken and 100 surveillance cameras have been installed to monitor the urs celebrations. He said around 1,800 cops have been deployed at the darbar. Walk-through gates have been placed at all entrances and 175 security guards carrying metal detectors will frisk visitors.
Awan said the Health Department and the Punjab Food Authority would oversee the distribution of sabeel.
He said three power generators had been installed to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply and the LESCO, the WASA, the Civil Defence Department, Rescue-1122 and the Health Department have set up camps to facilitate devotees. He said hundreds of mashaikh, religious scholars and naat khawans would participate in the urs. Sajjada Nasheen of Ajmair Sharif (India), Syed Dewan Aal Syedi Ajmairi and Pir Syed Nazim Ali Nizami Shah, Sajjada Nasheen of Hazrat Khawaja Nizamuddin Aulia (India) will also participate in the celebrations.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 1st, 2015.
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