Remembering bhitai: Preparations for the 268th urs in full motion

HYDERABAD:

On the 268th urs of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo has invited the governor of Sindh, Dr Ishratul Ebad to inaugurate the event on January 9, 2012.

“The governor has not been here for the urs since the government came into power four years ago,” she said while talking to the media in Bhitshah on Thursday. She added that this year they would avoid the confusion caused last time by two separate inauguration events.

Around one million people are expected to be in Bhitshah for the three-day urs celebrations. Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro is scheduled to kick off the events while Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah will be there for the closing ceremony on the third day of the urs. To keep everyone entertained, there will be an international adabi conference, Malakhra (folk wrestling), Sugharan Ji Katchehry (folktale conference), cattle shows, agro-industrial exhibitions, and musical events. More than 2,200 policemen and Rangers along with 300 volunteers will be deployed there.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 30^th, 2011.