KASUR: Hundreds of people from across the country thronged the shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah as three-day celebrations of the 260th Urs of the Sufi saint concluded here on Saturday.

Sakina Bibi, a devotee from Sahiwal, said she was pleased and spiritually elevated by visiting the shrine of Bulleh Shah. She said she had tied a thread at the shrine for fulfillment of her wishes.

Another devotee, Sadaf Bibi from Karachi, said she was so inspired by the poetry of Bulleh Shah that she was forced to visit the shrine. Muhammad Latif of Multan said he visited the shrine every year and felt relieved of his burdens. Shabana from Lahore expressed spiritual satisfaction after visiting the shrine.

Owing to strict security arrangements, recreational activities were banned, disappointing some locals. Hanifa Bibi said Urs were events for community gathering and a source of entertainment for have-nots.

She lamented that due to lack of recreational activities for children, stalls of handicrafts and toys and the drumbeat, the Urs was reduced to merely a visit to the shrine.

The 27th Bulleh Shah conference was held at Kasur Municipal Committee Hall where scholars presented their research-based theses shedding light on various facets of the life and poetry of Bulleh Shah. The event was organised by Majlis Bulleh Shah and presided over by Khadim Ali Khokar.

The scholars were unanimous that the poetry of Bulleh Shah was for all ages, times and regions and it was this element of universality that elevated his status among other poets of the world.

They also said problems of the present times, including poverty, selfishness, greed, political chaos and terrorism, could be solved by following the teachings of Bulleh Shah.

They urged the rulers to include the poetry in syllabi to inculcate values of tolerance among the masses.

Sardar Kalyar Singh, Nazar Ahmed Ghazi, Athar Jamil Qazi, Akram Sheikh, Dr Asmatullah Zahid, Perveen Malik, Muhammad Iqbal Manj, Ashraf Sharif and Haroon Gul Swati were among the prominent scholars. Students, teachers and people from all walks of life attended the conference.

Punjabi Khoj Garh in Mustafabad hosted a mushaira on Saturday organised by poet Iqbal Qaisar. Poets and folk singers from across Punjab participated in the event.

Majlis Bulleh Shah also held a mushaira late on Saturday that was scheduled to go on till Fajr prayers. Poets from various parts of the province were likely to participate in it.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2017