Raja Syed Rather
Ganderbal, Aug 23: After remaining suspended for more than three decades, the annual Urs of Sufi saint Syed Qamar-ud-Din Bukhari will be observed from Thursday in this central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Before its suspension in the early ‘90s, the Urs would attract hundreds of devotees who would from nook and corner of the valley to pay obeisance at the shrine.
The organisers said that the Urs will start on August 24 (Thursday) and will culminate on August 29, with ‘Shab-o-Khawani’ and ‘Darood-o-Azkaar’ (nightlong prayers) on August 28.
“The Urs will formally begin today late evening with nightlong prayers,” said a devotee.
In view of the ongoing Urs, a funfair has been established in the town with a variety of food stalls, traditional snack stalls including garment stalls and entertainment avenues for children.
The Urs resumed after a gap of three decades with the efforts of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the district administration last year, the organisers said.
They said authorities have made arrangements this year to facilitate water transport to revive this important aspect of the Urs.
“Three decades ago, the water transport from Srinagar through Jhelum and Sindh stream would enable scores of people who would come in ‘Dongas’ (non-luxury houseboats) to attend the Urs,” they said.
People living in villages close to the shrine would invite relatives and friends on this annual Urs while the family get-togethers give an important value addition to the devotees’ prayers.
