Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s urs begins

Minister urges people to follow SOPs to prevent virus spread during ceremonies

KARACHI:

After a five-month-long closure of shrines, Sindh saw its first Urs celebrations as the three-day urs of Sufi saint Abdullah Shah Ghazi began at his shrine in Clifton on Monday.

Sindh Auqaf Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal inaugurated the 1,290th Urs ceremony of the renowned saint and offered prayers, while the rituals began with bathing the tomb and laying floral wreaths and chadar on it.

While thousands of devotees make their way to the shrine for the celebrations each year, the pandemic situation has led the government to restrict the number of visitors this time around. Furthermore, all devotees intending to attend the ceremonies have been directed to observe precautionary measures.

Visiting the shrine, Sindh Information Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah appealed to the people to continue to follow standard operating procedures to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus, while also asking them to arrange special prayers for the country's stability and development on the occasion. He added that elaborate security arrangements had been put in place for visitors as well.

"The land of Sindh is the land of Sufis," he said. "The teachings of saints are guidance for humanity forever."

Shah stated that there was peace and tranquillity in Sindh and people from all over the country came to there to earn a living. "The Sindh government considers the followers of all schools of thought, sects and religions to be free and empowered to worship in accordance with their beliefs," added the provincial minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2020.