NOWSHERA: The 374th Urs of Syed Kasteer Gul, popularly known as Kaka Sahib, was celebrated at his shrine in Ziarat Kaka Sahib village on Sunday.

Hundreds of devotees and followers of Kaka Sahib, also known as Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar, thronged the shrine to witness flag hoisting and grave washing ceremonies.

Mela Cheraghan was also held and bazaars around the shrine were decorated.

Earthen lamps were lighted in and around the shrine to pay homage to the saint.

Former federal minister Mian Feroz Jamal Shah Kakakhel, patron-in-chief of Qaum-i-Kakakhel, along with other elders including Hilalud Din, Mian Insafud Din, Zaffar Ali Shah, Gohar Mian, Jan Mohammad, Malik Zaffar, Noman Kakakhel and others inaugurated the Urs celebrations by laying a traditional shawl on the shrine of the saint.

Hazrat Kaka Sahib was known for his religious knowledge among the saints of his time.

He used to teach Tafseerul Quran and Hadith. Pupils from surrounding areas and across the sub-continent used to visit his abode to seek religious knowledge.

He had left his home at the age of 30 and started living at a secluded place surrounding by mountains in the south of Nowshera city. Soon the place became a centre of religious education.

His pupils, some of whom were also famous saints, included Faqir Jamal Khan, Sheikh Abdul Latif Balkhi, Khawja Akhun Yousaf Qandahari, Sheikh Darya Khan, Sheikh Akhun Zafar Kohistani, Sheikh Fateh Khan, Sheikh Babar Baba, Hazrat Akhun Salak Baba, Sheikh Yahya Baba and Sheikh Gulnoor Baba.

Legendary Pakhtun worrier and poet Khushal Khan Khattak and his father Shahbaz Khan were also disciples of Hazrat Sheikh Rahamkar.

Khushal Khan Khattak had also written verses about Kaka Sahib’s life and his affiliation with him.

Khushal Khan Khattak’s daughter was married to Hazrat Kaka Sahib’s elder son Hazrat Sheikh Ziaud Din (Shaheed Baba).

Khushal Khan Khatak’s brother Jamal Khan Khattak (Faqir Jamal Khan or Faqir Jamil Baig) was also a known follower of Hazrat Kaka Sahib.

Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2016