Over 1 lakh devotees attend Baba Nagri Urs

Kangan, June 8:  More than one lakh devotees on Saturday paid obeisance at the Baba Nagri shrine in the Wangat area of Ganderbal District on the 127th Urs of Sufi saint, Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanwi (RA).

The two-day Urs which commenced on Friday concluded with special and joint prayers at Wangath Kangan on Saturday.

Nightlong prayers were held on Friday and the concluding day, a joint prayer was held in which devotees prayed for peace, prosperity, unity, brotherhood, and communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir. The two-day annual Urs is observed in the first fortnight of June every year with thousands of devotees from within and outside Jammu and Kashmir thronging the two-day event.

The devotees who had come from different areas of J&K, particularly Rajouri, Doda, Udhampur, Poonch, Kishtwar, Shopian, Doda, Islamabad, Kupwara, and Bandipora had reached Baba Nagri, Wangat on Friday.

Children and women in colourful attires and men in bright headgear were a common sight along the road leading to Baba Nagri.

The Urs comes at a time when the nomadic Gujjars are on their annual migration, many carry their livestock along.

“We come along our livestock and pay obeisance here for a happy year,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a nomad.

A devotee Syed Zulfikar from Rajouri said that he had been visiting the shrine for the last several years and feels blessed by paying obeisance here.

He said that the caring nature of the Mian family was also attracting them to the place.

Sajadh Nasheen of the shrine, Mian Altaf Ahmad, who is the son of renowned religious personality and veteran Gujjar leader late Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi, besides various religious scholars also spoke and threw light on teachings and religious work rendered by the pious religious personality during his life for the welfare of mankind.

Earlier, Quran Khawani, Darood Azqar, and Khatmat-ul-Mozamaat were also held during night-long prayers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mian Altaf highlighted the life and contribution of Hazrat Baba Nizamuddin Kiyanwi (RA).

He emphasised participants to work for the welfare of humanity and follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

Calling for maintaining brotherhood and amity, Altaf advised devotees to be regular in their daily prayers.

He urged youth to stay away from the menace of drugs and be a helping hand to their families.

The Urs dates back to the 19th century, with this year being the 127th annual Urs.

Moulana Ghulam Mohiudin Naqashbandi while throwing light on the 127th Urs of Hazrat Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanwai (RA) said that he originally belonged to Kashmir and had migrated to the Hazara division of modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan during the late 19th century.

He was mentored by another Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Wali Kiyanawi (RA).

Later he was asked to return to Baba Nagri in Kashmir and preach Islam at the place.

He lived and preached here for the next 33 years, and lies buried in the shrine.

He was from the Naqashbandi legacy.

He also wrote Islamic books including Asrar-e-Kabaree and Malfoozat-e-Nizame on Fiqah and Tasawuf.

After his death, his son, Hazrat Mian Nizamuddin carried forward his legacy.

Talking to Greater Kashmir Sajadh Nasheen of the shrine, Mian Altaf said that this year the number of devotees was much more than previous years.

He thanked the administration for security and traffic management but said the traffic management could have been better.

Meanwhile, according to the shrine management, a 24-hour free langar (free meals) is put in place for the devotees visiting here throughout the year.

“The shrine management on Urs days arranges a special langar where food for thousands of people is prepared,” Mian Mehar Ali, who was looking after the arrangements, told Greater Kashmir.

The civil administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, and Traffic Police had made arrangements for security and traffic management for the Urs.