Shrine of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast. PHOTO: FILE
SUKKUR: The 195th annual urs [death anniversary] of Hazrat Sachal Sarmast will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah today (Monday) in Daraza Sharif, Khairpur.
The saint is also popularly known as Shair-e-Haft Zaban [poet of seven languages]. His father was Khawaja Salahuddin Farooqui, who died soon after the Sufi saint's birth. Sarmast was brought up by his uncle, Khawaja Abdul Haq Farooqui, who ended up being his teacher, spiritual leader and father-in-law.
A large number of devotees from across the globe, including India, United Kingdom and United States of America, reached Daraza Sharif where the celebrations were unofficially inaugurated on Sunday by a disciple of the dargah, Khawaja Abdul Haq. The urs celebrations, which will go on for three days include a mehfil-e-sama and mushaira, during which Sufi singers, poets and writers will pay homage to Sarmast.
The devotees, however, complained about the lack of sanitation and other facilities, including drinking water. A police check-post has been established near the dargah to provide security to the devotees.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 20th, 2016.
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