PESHAWAR: The three-day celebrations of 355th urs of Rahman Baba concluded at Rahman Baba Complex here on Sunday.

Started on April 1, the three-day urs celebrations of the 17th century Sufi poet concluded with Pashto mushaira at his shrine. Poets from parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Fata, Balochistan and Afghanistan attended the event. Around Pashto 200 poets paid poetic tributes to Rahman Baba.

Participants of the event said that no official from the culture directorate showed up at the event despite the fact they had extended formal invitation to them two weeks ago.

Poets from KP, Fata, Balochistan and Afghanistan attend the event

“We had sent formal invitation cards to officials of the culture directorate but don’t know why they ignored it. They should at least send in their representative as we are not members of a political party or else,” said Zafarullah Bakhshali.

People from all walks of life including women, children, sick and mendicants thronged Rahman Baba shrine in large number and paid tributes to the great Sufi poet. Books and research treaties and articles written on the Sufi poet were also showcased for the fans, devotees and common readers.

Staunch devotees delivered soul-searching lectures on the various aspects of life of Rahman Baba, who lived in the Mughal era. Raham Gul, an old devotee, said that Rahman Baba pioneered Sufi thoughts in poetry. Although Roshanite movement had laid foundation of Sufi concept yet Rahman Baba further exploited it and gave an altogether different dimension, he added.

The members of Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga laid a floral wreath on the shrine of the Sufi poet while Qurankhawani was held on the first day of the urs. Later in the evening, Qawali concert was conducted in which local folk singers presented Sufi numbers of Rahman Baba.

The second day of the urs was devoted to a daylong seminar on the life and thoughts of Rahman Baba. The seminar was organised at Iranian culture centre under auspices of Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga and Pashto Adabi Board, Peshawar. Research scholars in their thought-provoking papers pointed out that Rahman Baba would always be revered by Pakhtuns across the globe for his universal thoughts and sublime poetry.

On the third day, a Pashto poetry session was held in two stages. Prof Dawar Khan Daud presided over the first poetry session while Eng Ejaz Khan Yousafzai graced the second poetry recital. Poets presented glowing homage to the Sufi poet.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2016