KHAIRPUR: Dastar­bandi of Sain Abdul Haq III, the 11th Sajjada Nashin (custodian) of Dargah Sachal Sarmast, was held on Wednesday in the main courtyard of the shrine at Daraza Sharif.

Khalifas and Faqeers of Sachal Sain, poets, literary persons, sitting and former MPAs and thousands of other people attended the ceremony. Before the Dastarbandi, Sufi singers of Sachal Sain recited Hamd written by Sachal Sain.

Later, they sang the poetry of Sachal Sain in group. When they sang the Kalam of Sachal Sain: “Kallangi Walarriya Yaar, Jeevain Lakh Theevain”, it created quite an impression on everyone present.

A speaker at the ceremony said Sachal Sarmast composed poetry against extremism some 200 years ago and also took practical steps. “If we want to work against extremism today, we need to follow Sufism,” he said.

He said that everyone present at the ceremony should resolve that they would follow the message of Sachal Sain and the philosophy of mysticism against extremism.

When the announcement for Dastarbandi was made, everyone shouted: “Haq Maujood”. Sajjada Nashins (custodians) of various sufi shrines, MPAs and other notables decorated the turban on the head of Abdul Haq.

The ceremony concluded after Abdul Haq made a prayer (Duaa).

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2015

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