Data’s devotees descend on Lahore

Annual celebrations in memory of Sufi saint kick off; holiday announced for tomorrow

LAHORE: Thousands of faithful paid respects to the revered Sufi saint Ali bin Usman al Hajveri, famously called Data Ganj Bakhsh whose 973rd urs began on Saturday in Lahore. Devotees from all over the country flocked the shrine as the three-day annual celebrations kicked off with the laying of a chaddar at the tomb.

Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, MNA Pervaiz Malik, Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin and Punjab Auqaf Secretary Nawazish Ali were among the devotees who participated in the inaugural session at Data Darbar.



A national Qirat contest was held at the Jamia Masjid, where competitors from all over the country participated in front of an audience of thousands of faithful at the shrine. The annual milk sabeel and langar was also arranged for the devotees at the annual congregation.

Security arrangements

Strict security arrangements have been made by the Lahore district administration. Streets leading up to the shrine have been closed for traffic. A total of 1,500 policemen, including six SPs and 60 SHOs, have been deployed to perform security duties at the Urs.

All the participants coming to the shrine were checked at three points while the route and site was cleared by sniffer dogs, bomb experts and special branch police officials. All entry and exit points were cordoned off with barbed wires and barricades with snipers deployed around the shrine.

Parking arrangements

The City Traffic Police has assigned two SPs, nine DSPs, 18 inspectors, 33 patrolling officers and 443 wardens to maintain smooth traffic flow of traffic in the city during the urs.

The Lahore Parking Company has established four parking stands, where devotees can park their vehicles free of charge.

Holiday announced

A holiday has been announced in Lahore district on account of the urs and schools and government offices will remain closed tomorrow (Monday), the last day of the urs that coincides with the chehlum of Imam Hussain.

The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education announced the practical examination of the ongoing Intermediate supplementary examinations would take place as scheduled on Monday.



The Punjab University has announced a holiday for November 21 at its campuses in Lahore. A PU spokesman, however, said all examinations would take place as per schedule despite the holiday.

The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation has allowed schools to call off the day given the traffic and security situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20^th, 2016.