The three-day 983rd annual Urs of renowned Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Ali bin Usman Al-Hajveri (Data Ganj Bakhsh) began in Lahore on Sunday, with thousands of devotees visiting the shrine under tight security.
The celebrations started with the traditional chadar-poshi ceremony. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the chief guest, laid a ceremonial chadar at the shrine and prayed for peace, stability and prosperity in Pakistan.
Punjab ministers Bilal Yasin, Mian Marghoob Ahmad and Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister Ali Dar, Secretary Auqaf Ahsan Bhatta, and other Auqaf Department officials also attended the opening ceremony.
Religious gatherings, prayers and spiritual sessions are continuing at the shrine. Devotees from across the country have arrived to take part in the annual Urs celebrations.
The authorities have deployed more than 5,000 police and law enforcement personnel to provide security during the three-day event, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims.
The administration has also made arrangements for traffic management, medical services, sanitation, and the free distribution of food and milk for devotees throughout the celebrations.
Also Read, Barrister Saif backs Mohsin Naqvi’s push for new provinces
