LAHORE - The Auqaf Department has finalised arrangements for the 975th Urs of Hazrat Usman Ali Hajveri popularly known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh.
The three-day celebrations will start on Friday (tomorrow) with an international conference on role of Hazrat Ali Hajveri.’ Punjab Governor Muhamamd Serwar will inaugurate the conference.
Auqaf Minister Sahibzada Saeedul Hassan Shah told journalists during a press conference here that Rs10 million were allocated for the Urs.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will inaugurate formal celebrations on Sunday morning. He will lay a wreath on the shrine and distribute milk to visitors at a sabeel (charity stall).
The minister said special charity food stalls will be set up at designated places of the shrine. Round the clock free food, he said, will be distributed to visitors during the three-day celebrations.
Thousands of devotees from across the country and abroad attend the Urs of Data Sahib.
The devotees light candles and pay homage to one of the great Sufi scholars of Sub-continent. Devotees have already started reaching Lahore and the Auqaf administration has adorned the shrine with lights and small flags.
Security steps
Police have stepped up security for the annual event. The minister said over 3,000 police, security guards of Auqaf and private companies were deployed for the purpose.
The roads leading to the shrine will be closed down with barbed wire, tents, and barricades. All devotees will be checked with metal detectors and movements will be monitored inside and around the shrine with CCTV cameras installed at different placed under safe city project. Free medical camps are also established for visitors.
The traffic police also issued its management plan. The traffic was blocked from Katchery Chowk towards the Data Sahib Darbar, Bhatti Gate, Taxali Gate and streets around the shrine.