LAHORE: The three-day annual urs celebrations of Hazrat Shah Hussain, popularly known as Madhu Lal Hussain, began at the Sufi saint’s shrine in Baghbanpura on Saturday. The festival, popularly known as Mela Charaghan (festival of lights), attracted a large number of devotees from around the country on Saturday. People will be visiting the shrine for three days to pay tribute to the Sufi poet and his close friend. Like every year, the 429th urs began with the lighting up of the ‘alao’ – a large fire – which will keep on burning for three days. Special prayers for the prosperity of the country were also offered at the opening ceremony. The third day is dedicated only for female devotees. However, in first two days, both men and women are allowed to visit. The City District Government Lahore (CDGL) had announced a local holiday on Saturday, due to which educational institutions and offices under the local administration remain closed. In Lahore’s cultural and religious history, Mela Charaghan has its own significance. It was once considered one of the biggest festivals and was started with the seasonal Baisakhi festival, welcoming the Basant. Every year, devotees from all over the country lay floral wreaths at the graves of Shah Hussain and Madho Lal. They perform dhamal at the shrine, light candles and distribute charity food during the three-day celebrations. Hazrat Shah Hussain is considered a historic poet whose work – mostly consisting of Kafis (short poems) – has been sung by several singers, including Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Junoon band, Noor Jehan and many others. He, through his poetry, tried to spread the message of love, peace and humanity during the Mughal Empire. Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the devotees on the occasion, as a large number of police personnel will remain deployed in and around the shrine for three days. No one was allowed to enter the premises without proper checking and frisking. Camps of Rescue 1122 and Bomb Disposal Squad have also been set up at the shrine in case of any emergency.