Cleaning ritual: Darbar washed ahead of Data’s 973rd Urs

LAHORE: The ritual of washing the shrine of Ali Bin Usman alHajveri, popularly known as Data Gunj Bukhsh, was carried out on Tuesday ahead of his 973rd death anniversary.

The city police had taken stringent security measures for the ritual at Data Darbar, where tonnes of rose water were used to washed the shrine.

All the roads leading to the shrine were closed for traffic and the Muharram procession as well. The adjoining roads were cordoned off with containers and razor wires. The police had installed walkthrough gates at all entry points in the area to screen visitors.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the chief guest on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2016.