The 277th urs celebrations of Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai began with little fanfare amid the continuing threat of the coronavirus pandemic in Bhit Shah, Matiari district, on Friday.
As Sindh Auqaf Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal officially inaugurated the three-day celebration by offering Fateha at Bhitai’s shrine, the building remained without the bright lights that usually shimmer on it.
Talking to the media, the minister explained that the government was not organizing the annual festival, which features sports, entertainment, trade and literary activities, due to Covid-19.
However, he added, the Latif Award ceremony would be held on Sunday (tomorrow) in strict compliance with pandemic-related standard operating procedures (SOPs), to confer awards on distinguished personalities in the fields of art and literature.
“The government has not given permission for the urs festival, and only those devotees who follow SOPs will be allowed to enter the shrine,” he stated.
Siyal further said he had taken notice of the fact that the shrine had not been lit up for the urs celebrations, claiming that an inquiry would be conducted in this regard and the relevant official suspended.
Meanwhile, the Matiari police cordoned off the link road that connects the shrine to the National Highway and stopped public transport from entering it.
Thousands of devotees, however, remained undeterred as they circumvented the barricades and walked the 3.3 kilometre road to the shrine.
Throwing caution to the wind, most of the visitors were found crowding the area without maintaining distancing or wearing face masks.
The district administration, meanwhile, removed the roadside stalls set up by vendors each year during the urs, while other shops and restaurants in the town have also been ordered to close by 9pm every day.
Officials also stated that unlike each year, no visitors will be allowed to sleep within the shrine’s compound.
Last week, Sindh culture secretary Ghulam Akbar Laghari told the media that a summary was submitted to Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah to seek approval for organising the festival. However, he added, the summary kept lying at his office until the Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah took up the matter with the CM.
After this, the provincial government decided that the day of the urs would be marked simply, without any events.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2020.
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