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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.
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| A devotee balances pots over his head while dancing at the shrine during the urs - AFP |
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| Devotees arrive at the Mazar of saint Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh in Lahore - INP |
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| A devotee whirls as he beats drums while another hangs from his back to balance their weight, at the shrine of Sufi Saint Data Ganj Bakhsh in Lahore. - Reuters |
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| A sufi blows a horn during the celebrations of three-day annual congregation of famous saint Data Ganjbaksh at his shrine in Lahore, Thursday. - AP |
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| A malang dances to celebrate the three-day annual congregation of saint Data Ganjbaksh. - AP |
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| A devotee smokes during the celebrations of the three-day annual congregation at the shrine of Data Ganjbaksh at his shrine. - AP |
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| Devotees gather at the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh - AFP |
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| Man pours oil in clay lamps at the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh, which is decorated with lights - Online |
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| The Urs of Data Ganjbaksh has its own religious significance but at the same time it is also considered as Lahore's biggest cultural event. - Online |
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On DawnNews
Comments (10) Closed
Dec 13, 2014 02:45pm
beautiful pictures DAWN!
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Dec 13, 2014 07:21pm
Nice pics but free pulao will bring out every one.
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Dec 13, 2014 09:36pm
Jahaliat at its peak.
What does all this, music, dance & smoking pot have to do with the holiness of this saint?
Grave worship is strictly disallowed in Islam.
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Dec 14, 2014 01:18am
I have never seen someone smoke more than one cigarette at a time
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Dec 14, 2014 06:30am
Should we feel proud of this height of ignorance. Why we call Pakistan a Muslim country.
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Dec 14, 2014 08:39am
@A. KHAN
What is allowed in Islam?
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Dec 14, 2014 10:55am
These pictures depict a cultural festival and not a celebration of the message of a great Sufi.
These images distort the true spirit of Sufism.
What is true Sufisim? According to Amatuual, the author of book The Lamp of Love: Journeying with the Sabri Brothers, "Islam has an outer dimension and an inner dimension. Its exoteric or outer dimension, which is the domain of Sacred Law (Shari'at) of the Qur'anic Revelation, is concerned with the attainment of salvation, that is, with the securing for all men a blessed return to Allah. Its esoteric or inner dimension is Tasawwuf, known in the West as Sufism. This is the domain of the Spiritual Path (Tariqa) of the Qur'anic Revelation and is wholly concerned with the attainment of human perfection, and therefore sanctity, in this life, Tasawwuf could be likened to the heart within the body of Islam."
Sufis preach love, peace and a journey towards human perfection by serving humanity and nullifying one’s ego!
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Dec 15, 2014 04:49am
@A. KHAN
You have your fairy tales, they have their's.
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Dec 15, 2014 05:56am
@Izaj
To be asking what is allowed in Islam-if you are a Muslim- is sad commentary on the state of Muslims when a Muslim does not know what is allowed and what is not. Please find your answer in the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet in Hadith. What is shown in this news report, you will find is strictly prohibited.
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Dec 15, 2014 12:40pm
@AKhan, let them enjoy.
Peace.
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