Source: http://www.dawn.com/2000/05/24/local5.htm
(downloaded April 2001)
 

LAHORE: Data Sahib's urs begins

                                                   By Our Reporter (DAWN)

LAHORE, May 23, 2000:   Three-day annual urs celebrations of the 11th century saint Syed Ali bin Usman Hajvairy popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh began here on Tuesday with Punjab Governor Muhammad Safdar laying a floral wreath at his grave after Isha prayers.

He was accompanied by provincial ministers, high officers and the Auqaf department officials. Later, he also opened a milk 'sabeel'.

The shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh and the newly rebuilt grand mosque nearby were profusely decorated and illuminated for the occasion. Elaborate arrangements were made by the Auqaf department to celebrate the 956th urs of the saint in a befitting manner. A large number of devotees of the saint from different parts of the country besides tens of thousands from the city will be visiting the Data Darbar to pay their homage to the saint. Separate arrangements have been made for women to visit the shrine.

Hundreds of people recited the Holy Quran at the darbar and the mosque while long queues of devotees were formed to offer Sura Fatehaat the grave. Teams of volunteers and the Auqaf officials were busy maintaining discipline and checking the activities of anti-social elements. Security arrangements were also made by the law enforcing agencies to prevent any untoward incident at the darbar. However, the visitors have been asked to remain alert and keep a vigilance on saboteurs.

A round-the-clock qawwali session also began with the commencement of the urs celebrations. Prominent qawwal and naat reciters of the country are participating in the sessions which will continue throughout the urs days till Thursday night. Different groups of qawwals have been formed for various sessions, which will be held at a separate enclosure with a seating capacity of over 1,500 people.

A three-day session of speeches by ulema and scholars at the Data Darbar mosque will begin on Wednesday (today). They will be highlighting the life and achievements of Data Ganj Bakhsh, particularly in the field of mysticism and preaching of Islam. Various sessions will be held till Thursday which will be presided over by the provincial ministers and Auqaf officers.

The milk sabeel and the huge 'langer khana' are attracting a large number of persons for milk and meals. While hundreds of 'degs' rice, pulses and meat will be cooked daily during the urs. A large quantity of cooked food will be brought by the devotees from their homes for distribution at the darbar.