Malangs dancing to drums at Data Darbar

Three-day urs of Hazrat Ali bin Usman Alhajveri begins.

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif prayed for the prosperity of the nation while placing a wreath at the shrine of Hazrat Ali Bin Usman Alhajveri, popularly known as Data Ganj Baksh, on Tuesday, the first day of the saint’s 969th annual three-day urs celebrations.

A large number of devotees had reached the shrine to participate in the celebrations. Hundreds of sabeels (stalls) of water and milk had been set up and langar (free food) was being distributed.

Many devotees took chaddars to place at the shrine. Others danced to the beat of the drum. Muhammad Nabeel said he regularly visits Data Darbar but his enthusiasm is multiplied when the time of the urs rolls around. He said he enjoyed the festivities of the urs.

People line up for the langar. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS 

Some participants said that they preferred walking to the shrine rather than reaching there by buses. Malangs, clad in traditional clothing, performed dhamal to drum beats outside the shrine. They said this was their way of paying tribute to the saint.

56-year-old malang Baba Lal Din said that he came to the urs regularly but preferred to walk to the shrine. It was his way of paying tribute, the Nishtar Colony resident added.

“Data Sahib spread Islam and walked his entire life. Why can’t I walk for him for a few hours?” Lal Din said. He said that millions of devotees headed to the shrine in their own way. “I am a malang of Data Sahib and I will not come here on a bus.”

The police help a man caught in the barbed wire. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS

Kasur resident Muhammad Azam was placing a wreath on the shrine. He said respect for the saint was to be cherished in the heart and it did no matter how one got to the shrine. He urged others to spare time and come to the celebrations.
District Coordination Officer Noorul Amin Mengal paid a visit to the shrine on Tuesday to inspect the security arrangements. Mengal said 20 closed circuit television cameras had been installed around the shrine to strengthen security. He added that Civil Defence volunteers were also on duty at entry and egress points of the shrine.

Katlamas for sale at Rs200 per kg. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS

Mian Usman said that he was satisfied with the security arrangements while Imran Ahmed said that untoward incidents still happened regardless of beefed up security. He said only God could protect them.

Data Ganj Bakhsh was an Afghan Sufi and scholar in the 11th century. He was born in Ghazni, Afghanistan (990 AD) during the Ghaznavid period and settled and died in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2013.