Urs of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) observed with religious zeal
Thousands participate in nightlong prayers
Srinagar: The annual Urs of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, also known as Dastgeer Sahab, Peeran-e-Peer and Gaus-ul-Azam (RA) was on Wednesday observed with religious zeal and fervor across the Valley with thousands of devotes thronging the two shrines located in Khanyar and Sarai Bala area of Srinagar city.
Thousands of people including men, women and old thronged the shrines throughout the day and participated in the special congregational prayers held in the shrines on the annual Urs of 11th century Sufi saint.
Though the Sufi saint never visited Kashmir in his entire life but is highly revered by the locals.
The devotees continued to throng the holy shrines in Khanyar and Sarai Bala and participated in the special prayers today.
Emotional scenes were also witnessed at both the shrines after the devotees had a glimpse of holy relic of the revered Sufi Saint that was displayed after every prayer today.
Amid bone-chilling cold, thousands of people also participated in the overnight special prayers at the shrines during which they recited the holy Quran.
The biggest congregational prayer was held at Khanyar shrine here.
During the special prayers, the religious clerics threw light on the teachings of revered saint. The devotees also participated in the special prayers that were offered here.
The shrines were decorated by the caretakers of the shrines while the traders had also erected banners, displaying the greeting messages on this day. Outside the shrines, the local and non-local business vendors had installed the carts and were seen selling Kashmiri traditional food stuff.
Similar reports of observing the Urs of the revered saint were received from various areas including Baramulla, Pinjura Shopian, Sirhama, Handwara and Tujjar Sharief in Sopore.
Braving chilly weather conditions, hundreds of devotees participated in the night-long prayers in Pinjura.
People from all corners of South Kashmir converged at Pinjura shrine in Shopian and participated in the nightlong prayers here.
Meanwhile, the annual Urs of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) was also observed with religious fervour in Sopore.
‘Shab Khwani’ (nightlong prayers) was held from the last evening and there was no let-up in the rush of devotees throughout the course of the day at Dastageer Sahib shrine in Sopore.
While devotees remained engrossed in prayers and supplications, emotional scenes of people praying with tears in their eyes were witnessed when the holy relic of revered saint was displayed after zuhar prayer.
The night-long prayers were also witnessed at shrines at Baramulla, Handwara and Tujjar Sharief in Sopore.
Meanwhile, authorities had made elaborate arrangements on the Urs of the revered saint.
“Various arrangements including the diversion plan for the traffic and other basic things were put in place on the Urs of Dastgeer Sahab (RA),” the officials said.
(With inputs from Bilal Ahmad)
Owais Gul
