Daily Times

HYDERABAD: Thousands of devotees reached Sehwan Sharif to commemorate the 766th death anniversary of Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

The Urs, starting on Saturday, will continue for three days.

Many locals rent out their houses to devotees while other devotees come prepared with their own tents.

The shrine was closed for visitors after the deadly explosion on February 16, 2017, which took nearly 100 lives and injured scores others.

Syed Usman Marvandi (1177 – 1274), popularly known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, was a Sufi saint and religious-poet. He preached religious tolerance among Muslims and Hindus.

Lal Shahbaz’s annual Urs (death anniversary) is held on the 18 of Sha’aban – the eighth month of the Muslim lunar calendar.

The Urs brings more than two million followers from all over Pakistan and abroad.

Devotees sing and perform dhamaal [a ritual to be devotees] at his shrine. Folk singers (mandali) are also invited from different regions each year.

The shrine of Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar welcomes all regardless of their religion.