Bulleh Shah, the humanist’s guide

KASUR: Famous Sufi poet Bulleh Shah’s 253rd urs celebrations are in progress in Kasur. A large number of disciples from across the country are thronging to the city for the event.

The celebrations started following Fajr prayers after the Quran khawani. Disciples of the venerable saint bathed his mausoleum and placed floral wreaths on his grave.

Politicians, social workers and people from all walks of life are expected to participate in the three day urs celebrations. “Bulleh Shah is perhaps one of the greatest sufi poets of all time, he is certainly one of the most widely revered in Pakistan and we come to the festival every year,” said Multan couple Anum and Suleman Khalid.

“He was perhaps the best known humanist in the entire subcontinent,” said Ali Haroon, a devotee.

On the second day of the urs, an international Bulleh Shah conference will be held. Several renown poets and intellectuals are expected to take part in the conference and will shed light on the poetry and the teachings of Bulleh Shah. “There is so much that can be said on Bulleh Shah’s writings because they are so diverse and complex in their subject matter. Yet, Bullah had a way of expressing himself that rendered the most complicated philosophies in simple language which both the uneducated commoner and the high brow intellectual could appreciate,” said poet Ali Zubair Karami.

The Kasur district administration has made tight security arrangements for the event and police officials have been deployed in and around the city to ensure that the festival goes smoothly. “This is a beautiful festival and it celebrates peace and humanity and we want to ensure that people are able to participate in it fully without having to worry about their safety,” said superintendent police Arif Chattha.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 25^th, 2010.