Urs of Dastageer Sahib (RA) concludes

Srinagar, Oct 18: Thousands of devotees offered prayers and had a glimpse of the holy relic on the Friday following Urs of revered sufi saint Hazrat Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani, popularly known as Dastageer Sahib (RA).

Devotees from across the valley thronged the shrine to offer congregational Friday prayers and to have a glimpse of the holy relic on the last day of the Urs. Every year, the Urs begins on the 1st day of Rabi Al Thani till the 11th day of Rabi Al Thani, as per the Islamic calendar. The Urs concludes on Friday following.

Roads and alleys around the holy shrine in Downtown’s Khanyar were full of devotees. “Today was the last day of the Urs, and every devotee wanted to have a glimpse of the holy relic for the last time this year. The Urs is celebrated for eleven days, and each day, people come in large numbers,” said Farooq Ahmad, a devotee.

Several senior religious scholars delivered the Islamic lectures over the past week at the Urs. On Friday Chairman of Karwani Islami International, Ghulam Rasool Hami delivered the lecture on the event. “Hazrat Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) is one of the towering religious figures in Islam, and the whole of Kashmir has a spiritual connection with him. He has served Islam and played a vital role in Islamic education and spirituality,” Hami said.

During the occasion, emotional scenes were witnessed as thousands of devotes had glimpse of holy relic, and participated in Islamic lectures and Darood-o-Azkaar gatherings.

Publicity secretary Jamiat-e-Hamdani GM Mir Saqi in a statement said its Chief patron Moulana Riyaz Hamdani delivered a sermon at Dargah-e-Gousiya Rehbab Sahib (RA) at Aali Kadal. Hamdani highlighted teachings of Hazrat Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA).

The administration had made all the arrangements to facilitate the Urs. Officials said that all the departments, including the Power Development Department (PDD), Fire and Emergency, SMC, Police, and the Health Department, had made requisite arrangements for the devotees.

As the Urs came to its concluding day, masjids and other shrines across Kashmir had organised special lectures and other religious functions to mark the Friday following the Urs.