Nightlong prayers to be held at Bandipora shrine on Urs of Dastageer Sahib (RA)

Bandipora, Oct 13: The Urs of the revered saint, Hazrat Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA), popularly known as Ghous-ul-Azam Dastageer, is being observed in Bandipora with religious fervor at the Dastgeer Sahib Ziyarat in Plan Bandipora as part of the valley-wide religious observance.

Sajjada Nasheen of the Dastgeer Sahib Shrine (RA), Mubasir Saleem Nazki, said that special prayers, including Khatam-ul-Muzamat and recitation of Darood-e-Sharif, have been taking place since the first of Rabi-ul-Thani, and on Urs eve (Monday), special prayers will be observed throughout the night.

The anniversary of the 11th-century saint Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) falls on the eleventh day of Rabi Al-Thani, the fourth month in the Islamic Hijri calendar.

"Following the nightlong prayers on Monday, the holy relic from the beard of the Sufi saint will be displayed to the devotees," Nazki said.

"The relic will be displayed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday after Fajr, Zuhr, and Maghrib prayers, respectively," he added.

Nazki is the custodian of the relic and the son of the late Professor Rashid Nazki, the famous Kashmiri author and poet who is believed to have brought the relic to Bandipora.

Nazki mentioned that special arrangements have been made for the observance of Shab, including provisions for female devotees.

He expressed his honor in hosting devotees at the shrine, demonstrating their love and respect for the Sufi saint. He appealed to people to attend the Shab prayers, where special prayers will be held.