SAHIWAL, Feb 17: The 762nd annual urs of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganj Shakar is being celebrated in Pak pattan district with traditional zeal and fervour. The event began on Feb 5 (25th Zilhaj) and will continue till 10th of Muharram.

Hundreds of people from the length and breadth of the country have flocked to the shrine to pay homage to the prominent saint of the sub-continent. Most of the visitors pledge to pass through Bahishti Darwaza.

It is a small door in the southern wall of the shrine, which is opened by the caretaker on the night of 6th Muharram every year. It remains opened till the conclusion of the urs (10th Muharram). The devotees pass through this door and enter the premises of the shrine.

After offering fateha for the saint, they leave the shrine through the eastern door called the Noori Darwaza. The Bahishti Darwaza remains closed throughout the year except few days in Muharram. On other days of the year, the visitors enter the shrine through the Noori Darwaza.

The urs of the saint attracts thousands of people for its rituals performed day and night during the 15-day celebrations. Among the visitors are waifs and strays and people of a variety of professions, who offer cash and other valuables to fulfil their vows, besides making arrangements for meals. They call it "langar of the saint."

The Evacuee Trust department makes special arrangements for the visitors to the shrine. But sadly some of the visitors have time and again complained about the trust officials who, they say, give red-carpet treatment to only VIPs visiting the shrine.

Some devotees complained while talking to this correspondent that the contractors, who had been awarded various services, were fleecing them taking advantage of the unusual rush.

"If you have to put your shoes on the rack of a contractor you are asked to pay Rs5 for a pair against the approved rate of Re1." Similar charges were used from each person for using latrine. The contractor of parking lot charged between Rs10 and Rs20 for each car, they said.