Data Darbar: Urs celebrations conclude peacefully

Security concerns, cold blamed for thin attendance.

LAHORE:

Amidst tight security, the three-day 969th urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bukhsh concluded here on Thursday without any untoward incident.

A less number of devotees attended the urs this year than last year. Hundreds of people enjoyed four sessions of samaa (devotional music) and ilmi mahafil (scholarly lectures) at the grand hall of the Data Darbar Complex.

The first session was presided over by Syed Mazhar Kazmi and Syed Riaz Hussain Shah, the second by Khwaja Fareeduddin Fakhri, third by Mohammad Aminul Hasnat Shah and fourth by Sahibzada Peer Akbar Ali Shah.

The concluding prayers are scheduled to be held at 2am and 5am on Friday. Mufti Ramazan Sialvi will lead the prayers.

A total of 135 cameras had been installed on and around the shrine premises out of which 35 were on real-time monitoring. The Auqaf Department had also hired a private security company  Safety Net  which had 130 security workers. They were supported by 170 volunteers of the Auqaf Department. As many as 20 walk-through gates had been installed at the shrine entrance. The Auqaf Department had allocated Rs8 million for the provision of various facilities to the devotees.

The road leading to Data Darbar from Bilal Gunj was closed. The Lower Mall was also closed using containers to secure the mourning procession for the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA).



Last year, long queues were seen at the entrances to the shrine. This year, the queues were smaller. Devotees blamed security worries for the thin attendance. Cold weather was another cause, said Darbar Auqaf Manager Mohammad Tariq Khan.

Many milk sabeels (fountains) were setup outside the shrine. Milk and langar (charity food) were distributed during all three days. On the mosque side of the shrine, tents had been set up and carpets laid down on the marble floor.

The suspension of mobile phone services caused problems for families as male members of a family had to obtain a written permission from the Auqaf manger before approaching the women’s area.

Mohammad Rahim from Gaseetpura, Faisalabad, said he had to wait for his wife for three hours. Tariq Khan said the containers placed on roads had also been a hurdle. He said not only there were less visitors at the shrine this year but also the ones who came were seen leaving quickly. He said the halls during Mehfil-i-Naat and Mehfil-i-Samaa were packed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2013.