Madhu Lal urs: Dhamal, langar food mark beginning of Mela Chiraghan

125 policemen perform security duties at the Shah Hussain shrine.

LAHORE:

Thousands of people visited the shrine of Sufi poet Shah Hussain, also known as Madhu Lal Hussain, on the first day of urs celebrations on Saturday.

Some devotees set up their tents in a compound adjacent to the shrine for their three-day stay.

Visitors were seen laying floral wreaths at the grave throughout the day and lighting clay lamps and candles.

Other highlights of the day included dhamal performance (dance on the beating of drums) and distribution of langar (community food). Sain Sher Ali and his group of drummers arrived in the city from Pasrur to perform at the urs.

Naeem Ahmed, who had a stall of rose petals and embroidered wreaths, said most of the customers at his stall had bought rose petals. “The visitors seem to be not very interested in laying wreaths on the grave,” he said.

Toys, crockery and food were being sold at other stalls set up in the streets leading to the shrine.

Muhammad Yousaf Butt, who was selling a bhang drink at one such stall, said he had been selling the drink at the urs for 20 years. “I have been regularly consuming the herb for 50 years. It has several health benefits,” he said.

Syed Muhammad Afzal, a Makkah Colony resident, said he had come with some friends to pay homage to the saint.

Some people were seen walking around the portion of the compound reserved for devotees carrying hand fans to cool themselves down. Karamat Ali, one such volunteer, said he expected to make between Rs300 and Rs350 per day during the three-day ceremonies.

The city district government had announced a local holiday in the city on Saturday. The ceremonies on the opening day were inaugurated by the Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department director general.

Medical camp: Best Welfare Society established a camp where they were providing free medical help to the visitors. Dr Ameer Hussain said the camp would be functional round the clock and would provide medicines for the treatment of cough, stomach ache and other common diseases. He said 200 patients had visited the camp since morning.

Security arrangements: Three walkthrough gates, one of which was out of order, were installed at the main entrance.

DSP Haji Akram told The Express Tribune that two DSPs, three SHO and 125 other police officials were performing duties at the shrine. Besides, 20 officials of the Civil Defence Department were also assigned duties at the shrine.

Protest: Some people took the urs ceremonies as an opportunity to stage their protests as well.

A group held a demonstration against the detention of Afia Siddiqi in a United States prison. Syed Azher Hussain, who introduced himself as the president of the Afia Movement Punjab, said they wanted the visitors to know about the sacrifices of the brave woman.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2015.