HYDERABAD: The 272nd urs celebrations of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sindh's most popular sufi saint, commenced formally Friday morning in the town of Bhit Shah in Sindh's Matiari district.
Informally, celebrations began after dusk on Thursday, in line with the religious tradition. The urs begins on the 14th day of the Islamic month, Safar. The urs will conclude on Sunday morning.
Officially, two separate opening ceremonies were held, with one attended by adviser to Sindh chief minister for Auqaf, Dr Qayyum Soomro, and the other by CM’s adviser on culture, Sharmila Farooqui. Both arrived at the shrine separately.
On Thursday evening, Waqar Hussain Shah, the 12th Sajjada Nashin of the shrine, visited the outer premises of the shrine along with his brothers (Mustafa Shah, Khaar Shah and Zulfikar Shah) and laid a floral wreath.
“A Sajjada Nashin never enters the shrine in line with tradition set by Shah Jamal Shah. This is a tradition that we have inherited from our forefathers as Shah Jamal Shah believed that he does not deserve to enter the ‘roza’ (shrine) of his murshid out of respect. Hence, the tradition continues to date”, explains Raza Shah, Waqar's uncle. Shah Jamal Shah was the first Sajjada Nashin of Bhitai's shrine.