HYDERABAD: The 280th urs celebrations of 17th century Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai resumed after a long gap of three years in Bhitshah, Matiari, on Friday.

The provincial government had kept public celebrations of the urs banned in 2020 and 2021 due to fears of the spread of coronavirus and did not allow public festivities last year due to presence of a large number of flood victims in Bhitshah. In addition, many areas remained under water, making movement on roads risky.

Sindh Minister for Law and Religious Affairs Mohammad Omar and Sindh Culture Minister Dr Junaid Shah laid floral wreaths on the saint’s grave to mark official commencement of the urs.

The ministers later listened to Bhitai’s poetry from the shrine’s raagis (Sufi singers) and distributed clothes among destitute women as per ritual.

Speaking to journalists, Dr Shah said that Sindh culture department was endeavouring to promote Bhitai’s message by incorporating it in syllabus so that the saint’s universal message reached all generations.

He said that it would inculcate feelings of love and brotherhood among children and teach them to live in harmony with each other. Bhitai was pride not only of Sindh but also of Pakistan. He was greatly inspired by Rumi and his message was relevant even this day, he said.

Omar Soomro said in answer to a question that he had met heirs of slain journalist Jan Mohammad Mahar and presented them a cheque for Rs10m. An anti-dacoits operation would be launched in the riverine area with the help of Rangers once the river water receded, he disclosed.

He said that caretaker government was working as an interim arrangement and it did not want to prolong its stay in power. Later, the ministers visited different stalls in cultural village set up on the shrine’s premises.

Devotees of Bhitai traditionally begin their celebrations after sunset on the 13th of Safar by staging dhamal in the evening, while the urs proceedings get under way officially on the morning of the 14th of Safar.

The root of the word urs is Arabic which means union, marriage (of souls, bodies). In mystic traditions, a saint’s death is not considered an occasion of grief and sorrow but is a day of jubilation when the saint meets his beloved, God.

Sindh secretary Auqaf and director of culture Munawar Ali Mahesar, secretary of culture Abdul Aleem Lashari, divisional commissioner Bilal Memon, DIG Police Hyderabad Pir Mohammad Shah and others also accompanied the ministers.

Published in Dawn, September 2nd, 2023