For the saint: More devotees throng Data Darbar on Friday

The number of visitors was high as people from various areas had thronged the shrine to offer Friday prayers.

More malangs (mendicants) had set up tents on footpaths and Gora Qabristan (graveyard) near the shrine. They smoke in groups and dance to the beats of drums.

Crowds of people were seen around the milk sabeel. Police deployed to maintain order at the sabeel were kept busy. Langar food was also distributed among the devotees.

Cleaning arrangements were not good at and around the shrine although the darbar administration had hired a number of sanitary workers for the purpose.

Roads leading to Data Darbar had been closed for security.

“I do good business on such days. People from across the country attend the urs of Data Sahib,” said Nusrat Bibi who sells garlands on a footpath near the shrine.