GATC

Sunday 20 November 2011

Urs By the Sea

The word "Urs" as used in the Indo Pak sub-continent with reference to "buzurgs" (Sufis to the west) is the celebration of their death anniversary. Celebration of a death anniversary in itself seems a paradox but over the past 100s of years it has become a reality....a way of life....at the hundreds or thousands of shrines that dot this part of the world.

Why celebrate the death anniversary one would ask? It is actually not a celebration of death rather the celebration of being united with the beloved. The occasion of meeting the maker is a time of rejoicing for they have served their time in this world and now after having done their duty they are ready to meet Allah. Which is why there are Qawalis that term the saint as the Doolah.


The 1281st Urs of the patron saint of Karachi, Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi has recently concluded in the coastal city.




Not much is known about Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi except that he keeps Karachi safe from all calamities specially those that are ocean borne. Whatever Hazrat's history, his following into the present is undoubted.

His Mazar stands as a quiet sentinel over the city of Karachi and is beautifully decorated each year at the time of his Urs just as it was this year as well.



Thousands of people throng to the Mazar to pay homage to their saint..and this year they and no qualms to stand in the queue to be granted access within the shrine.







His shrine has a sense of peace and spirituality that Dervish did not expect. Even though it was Urs time, when thousands come to pay their respects, there was a sense of calm throughout the shrine and an all pervasive sense among the people that they are there just to pay their respects and are not interested in anything else.




The entry into the "sanctum" was orderly and monitored...people were kindly requested to keep moving..no one was directed to bow down...anyone who wanted to say the Fateha was allowed to stand and say the Fateha...all others were allowed a decent amount of time and then requested to move along so that others had the chance to come inside..(if people wanted to touch the grave that was there call and were neither stopped or directed to do so). Dervish did not see any bowing down to the grave within the Sanctum. There were chaddars being put but it wasn't too elaborate an exercise nor it made into a circus. To be honest the administration of Mazar that were present in the sanctum were strictly polite and ensured that people behaved. Which was most appreciated.








Due to the Urs and the security concerns, it appeared that the regular residents of the Mazar had been moved out. Dervish had been interested in meeting and talking to them but perhaps the Urs was the wrong time to expect to talk to them.



As one exits the Sanctum and takes the stairs down there are graves on both sides. The graves on the left side seem to have more importance and there are administration people standing there who keep guiding people to keep moving. Upon enquiring Dervish was told that these are the graves of "Baba's Malangs" and are very very old. No further information could be gleaned at that time due to the press of the people. (However Dervish aims to find out further details on the next visit whenever that may be...or whenever Baba deigns that to be :))






The love, respect and devotion of the dwellers of Karachi and the people who believe in Abdullah Shah Ghazi, was evidenced by the fact that despite a bomb blast in a nearby area just a day before the Urs and the bomb blast at the Mazar itself at the Urs last year, the people continued to flow to the Mazar as if nothing had happened. If that isn't faith than what is.




To be honest one also has to admire Karachi police. They were there in droves and contrary to what one has heard about them, they were smiling and helpful!!! When Dervish thanked them for making the Mazar safe for the people to attend the Urs, all they had to say was no one ever appreciates it...all we get is criticism and condemnation. Well, for one Dervish commends their effort for making the Urs a safe one for the thousands that attended this year.



Karachites believe that while Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi continues to keep his quite vigil over the city Karachi will be kept safe from all harm.

Faith .. in whatever form... has a role to play in the making and breaking of peoples...and perhaps the answer to Karachi's survival does lie in the faith of this troubled city's people in this quite sentinel.


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