LAHORE: Devotees started a three-day celebration on Thursday in Lahore, for the 971st death anniversary of Sufi Saint Syed Ali bin Osman Al-Hajvery popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh.

Thousands of people travel from all over Pakistan to attend celebrations at the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh, during the annual religious festival.

Data Ganj Bakhsh was a Persian Sufi scholar during the 11th century. He was born in Ghazni, Afghanistan in 990 AD during the Ghaznavid Empire and settled and died in Lahore, spreading Islam in South Asia.

During the festival the shrine is lit up with candles and lights, donated food is prepared for the people and Sufis dance and play music for hours.

A devotee balances pots over his head while dancing at the shrine during the urs - AFP