KHAIRPUR, Oct 8: The 185th annual urs of sufi saint and poet Sachal Sarmast began in Daraza Sharif on Sunday.

Sindh Minister for Culture Rauf Siddiqui and Minister for Auqaf, Ushr and Religious Affairs Manzoor Panhwar inaugurated the three-day urs and laid floral wreaths on the mazar of the poet.

Thousands of devotees from Sindh and other parts of the country arrived in Daraza for the three-day event.

A Mehfil-i-Sama was held.

The ministers and Sajjada Nasheen Sakhi Qabool Mohammad gave away Sachal awards to Mansoor Mirani for the best research papers on Sufism, Syed Noor Rizvi (best poet), Nazeer Fakir Tunio (best sufi singer), Abdul Ghafoor Soomro (best singer light) and Dhaloo Fakir (best Sughar).

The life-time achievement award was given to senior singer Anwar Vistro.

Speaking at the music conference, Sakhi Qabool Mohammad said that Sachal gave his message of brotherhood when dark clouds hung over Sindh.

He said that Sachal was the first poet of Sindh who wrote poetry in seven languages including Sindhi and Urdu.

He said that he had resigned from the Sachal chair of the Shah Latif University because of he had not been allowed to publish Sachal’s Urdu poetry.

He said that he wanted publication of Urdu poetry to spread his message of tolerance in the whole country.

He said that Sachal’s shrine and adjoining buildings had been affected by the recent rains and it was a matter of concern that only colour paint had been carried out to the shrine for urs celebrations.

He said that the buildings attached with the shrine were rented for marriage ceremonies but no programme regarding the poet was held there.

Criticising the Sachal Yadgar Committee, he said that it was better not to celebrate urs than celebrating it in such a manner.

He said that last year Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad had announced Rs1 million for repair of Sachal’s shrine, out of which only Rs200,000 were spent on repair.

He said that nobody knew that what happened with rest of the amount.

Auqaf minister Manzoor Panhwar expressed concern over the issues raised by Sakhi Qabool Mohammad.

He announced Rs2 million for the shrine on behalf of the Sindh chief minister.

Manzoor Panhwar said: “we should follow the teachings of sufi saints and spread their message”.

Culture minister Rauf Siddiqui ordered an inquiry into misappropriation of funds released by the Sindh governor for repair of shrine.

He said that Urdu poetry of Sachal Sarmast would be published by the Sindh culture department.

He announced financial aid of Rs25,000 for ailing Sufi singer Sohrab Fakir.

Sohrab Fakir, Bhooral Fakir, Shaman Fakir and others performed Sachal’s Kalam.

SYC secretary Maula Bux Larik, in-charge of the publication of Sarmast Sachal souvenir, Qurban Mangi presented souvenir to the ministers.

SHRINE: The dome of Sachal Sarmast’s shrine is in need of repairs and renovation.

The dome’s bricks have developed cracks and the colour of beautiful patterns made on them has faded.

The small pillars supporting the main pillars of the shrine, too, show signs of wear out for last many years and nothing has been done so far to restore them.

The shrine constructed during the reign of second ruler of Khairpur state, Mir Rustam Khan Talpur (1811-1843) has no arrangements for the accommodation of devotees and sufi fakirs.

Most of the sufi singers stay all the three days of urs under “Khabbar” tree at the shrine and keep singing raag.

A temporary stage constructed of bricks for musical conference is too small to accommodate all the devotees.