Remembrance: Chatri Wala Baba’s shrine continues to attract devotees
Two events were held at the original site of the grave.
Dozens of devotees gathered at separate events at the original site to pay their tributes.
LAHORE:
The 38th three-day urs of Hazrat Salamat Ali Baba ended on Friday.
The Sufi mystic’s grave was moved from Ravi Road to the Gao Shala graveyard, near River Ravi, during the construction of the metro bus project.
Dozens of devotees gathered at separate events at the original site to pay their tributes.
Two men had organised separate events near the site; one where the saint’s shrine used to be and the other at a house nearby.
Shafqat Hussain Bukhari, who organised the urs celebrations at his house nearby, told The Express Tribune that he had been 20 years old when he had helped bury the saint.
He said he had organised the urs celebrations every year since then. He said he had a tyres business and did not wish to be the caretaker of the shrine.
He said he had protested the government decision to move the grave. When the decision became final, he said he had offered his property for the new grave. The government had, however, chosen a graveyard at Gao Shala, a few miles away from the original site.
He said when the man was first buried, there was a single-lane road some distance from the grave. Over the years, the road had been widened and eventually the grave had to be shifted.
Sain Imran, who claimed to be the caretaker of the shrine where the second urs celebrations were being held, told The Express Tribune that his family had been entrusted with upkeep of the shrine for many years. Imran offered tea and dinner to all visitors.
Imran said he had no rivalry with Shafqat. He said they should joined hands to organise the celebrations.
Some of the devotees placed a banner carrying pictures of Hazrat Salamat Ali also known as Baba Chatri Wala at the shrine.
They had also placed green sheets inscribed with Quranic verses at the foot of the flex.
The crowd at the urs was much smaller than in the past but drum beating, performances and communal dinner went on as usual. The shrine and the adjoining building had received fresh coats of paint for the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.
The 38th three-day urs of Hazrat Salamat Ali Baba ended on Friday.
The Sufi mystic’s grave was moved from Ravi Road to the Gao Shala graveyard, near River Ravi, during the construction of the metro bus project.
Dozens of devotees gathered at separate events at the original site to pay their tributes.
Two men had organised separate events near the site; one where the saint’s shrine used to be and the other at a house nearby.
Shafqat Hussain Bukhari, who organised the urs celebrations at his house nearby, told The Express Tribune that he had been 20 years old when he had helped bury the saint.
He said he had organised the urs celebrations every year since then. He said he had a tyres business and did not wish to be the caretaker of the shrine.
He said he had protested the government decision to move the grave. When the decision became final, he said he had offered his property for the new grave. The government had, however, chosen a graveyard at Gao Shala, a few miles away from the original site.
He said when the man was first buried, there was a single-lane road some distance from the grave. Over the years, the road had been widened and eventually the grave had to be shifted.
Sain Imran, who claimed to be the caretaker of the shrine where the second urs celebrations were being held, told The Express Tribune that his family had been entrusted with upkeep of the shrine for many years. Imran offered tea and dinner to all visitors.
Imran said he had no rivalry with Shafqat. He said they should joined hands to organise the celebrations.
Some of the devotees placed a banner carrying pictures of Hazrat Salamat Ali also known as Baba Chatri Wala at the shrine.
They had also placed green sheets inscribed with Quranic verses at the foot of the flex.
The crowd at the urs was much smaller than in the past but drum beating, performances and communal dinner went on as usual. The shrine and the adjoining building had received fresh coats of paint for the event.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2013.