LAHORE, April 15: Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool will inaugurate three-day Urs celebrations of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Hajveri after the Isha prayers on April 21 by performing the traditional chaddar-laying ceremony.

The governor will also inaugurate a milk ‘sabeel’ outside the shrine.

This was disclosed during a meeting held here on Tuesday to finalize arrangements for the annual Urs of the patron saint of Lahore. Punjab Auqaf Secretary Javed Mahmood Awan presided.

Participants in the meeting were informed that the auqaf department had chalked out an elaborate programme for the Urs. Prominent religious scholars will read papers on the life and teachings of the saint at a symposium to be held at the Darbar Jamia Mosque after the Isha prayers on April 17.

A mushaira will be held at the mosque after the Isha prayers on April 19. Nasirruddin Gilani will preside.

A Mehfil-i-Naat will be held at the mosque on April 21 and a ‘Mehfil-i-Samaa will start on the morning of April 22 and continue for two days. Congregations of preachers and Qirat competitions will also be held.

The celebrations will conclude with the collective prayers to be led by Darbar Jamia Mosque Khateeb Allama Muhammad Maqsud Ahmed Qadri at 2am on the night between April 22 and 23.