Thousands of followers of Hazrat Bari Imam (R.A) on Sunday reached to participate in the annual Urs celebrations of great saint Syed Abdul Latif Kazmi (RA), known as Bari Imam. These devotees belonging to different parts of the country are participating in the five-day celebrations.
These are Pakistan's colourful saint-worshippers, adherents of the Sufi branch of Islam. A huge rush was witnessed at the bus stop as outsiders were looking to vehicles, which proceed to Bari Imam.
During the Urs celebrations, each night at the shrine, a large number of pilgrims twirled to rapidly beating drums. Others carried miniature golden mausoleums garlanded with yellow and green streamers and triangular flags bearing verses from the Holy Quran.
The devotees are arriving to make or fulfil "mannats" (pledges) that they would regularly visit the shrine, feed the poor or perform another act if their prayers are answered. Number of people were seen dancing before drums while walking at main Pirwadhai Faizabad and Murree road. These followers were going to place Chadar at the shrine. Majority of them were the local residents and some belonging to adjoining areas.
In order to ensure the security of devotees, administration and Capital Development Authority (CDA) has made foolproof security arrangements. To facilitate the local and outside visitors parking and traffic arrangements have been made so that visitors could reach to the shrine without facing any problem.
Officials said that ambulances, the fire brigade and a free mobile dispensary would be available on alert to meet any emergencies. They said separate areas would be demarcated for women pilgrims and supply of clean drinking water would be ensured while special stalls for selling sweets and other food items would also be set up.
They said floodlights have been installed in the Mazar's surroundings and plainclothes policemen deputed who be on duty round the clock for security. Moreover, they said that 500 daigs (big bowls) of salty rice and 150 of sweet rice would be cooked every day during the Urs celebrations. Hazrat Bari Imam, who died in 1708, was a contemporary of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb and was widely respected for his tolerant views.
The Urs is celebrated as a tribute to this legacy. Sweat mingles with tears on sun-darkened faces of pilgrims who walk miles, most of them barefoot and clad in rags, destined towards the shrine Hazrat Bari Sarkar (RA) in the hills, around Islamabad every year.
Reciting verses from the Holy Quran, women view the grave through a glass window, which many touch and kiss while praying for the blessings of Almighty Allah. The faithful read from one of the hundreds of the copies of the Holy Quran, the moment when one leaves after recitation. Some simply sit in silence as mark of respect for the great saint, taking a moment to say a final prayer and to collect.
As is indexed in the history, Hazrat Bari Imam (RA) was one of the great preachers of Central Asian and Arab who for centuries travelled through South Asia spreading Islam. During the 17th century, thieves and outcasts occupied Noorpur Shahan village at the edge of Islamabad.
While travelling though the area, the great saint, who had migrated to the densely thick underwood isolated terrain, now known as Islamabad from his origin, a village in Chakwal area, was stunned by the habits of those living among the natural beauty of the Margalla Hills. He (Bari Imam) decided to stay and teach the people about Islam. Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, who was devoted to spreading his empire, originally built the silver-mirrored shrine of Hazrat Bari Imam (RA).
It has been renovated and is now is maintained by the government. Inside the mausoleum, where the great saint rests, only men are permitted, a steady stream of worshippers enter and exit, most bending to kiss and strew rose petals on the green cloth covering the grave of Hazrat Bari Sarkar (RA). According to an estimate over 500,000 pilgrims would be arriving to pay homage at the silver-mirrored mausoleum of 17th century Sufi saint Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi (RA), best known as Hazrat Bari Imam (RA).