Lahore Comes Alive: Celebrating the 983rd Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh

In a vibrant display of spiritual fervor, the city of Lahore is set to commemorate the 983rd annual Urs of the revered Sufi saint, Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh. This joyous occasion, which honors the life and legacy of the 11th-century Persian Sufi and scholar, will be marked by a public holiday on August 4. The festivities, inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, will feature a traditional chadar-laying ceremony and the inauguration of a milk Sabeel at the historic Data Darbar shrine. Hundreds of devotees, including esteemed religious scholars and sufis, are expected to converge upon the shrine, which is renowned as the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia. Born in Ghazni, Afghanistan in 990 AD, Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh settled in Lahore, where he spread the profound message of brotherhood and spiritual harmony. The three-day ceremonies, which are an integral part of the Urs celebrations, will be a testament to the enduring power of Sufism and its ability to transcend borders and cultures.