ISLAMABAD, May 14: Thousands of people thronged the shrine of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif, better known as Bari Imam, on the first day of annual Urs at Noorpur Shahan Village here on Sunday.

The three-day Urs began with the beat of drum and Dhamals (dances) to pay tribute to the most famous and revered saint of Potohar region.

A ceremony of Chadarposhi was held in the shrine. National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain was the chief guest on the occasion. He was accompanied by caretaker of the shrine Raja Sarfaraz.

Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro will be the chief guest at the concluding ceremony on 18th.

Some 500 ‘Dalian’ (rallies), each comprising about 50 people, reached the shrine from various parts of the country. Most of the devotees travelled on foot in memory of the saint who was famous for travelling long distances on foot.

The devotees, carrying the replica of the shrine, sang devotional songs and danced to the beats of the drums.

According to a rough estimate, some 200,000 people, including women, children and aged persons, visited the shrine on the first day of Urs.

Some of the devotees were seen collecting ‘Langar’ (food) distributed at the shrine, while others were offering prayers.

The Urs of Hazrat Bari Imam has become one of the major events of the capital as thousands of devotees from all over the country take part in it every year.

A number of free medical camps have been set up on the premises of the shrine to provide first aid, if required.

The Capital Development Authority has provided a tanker to provide drinking water to the devotees.

Hundreds of tents and sheds have been installed in the open field around the shrine for providing accommodation to the devotees, who will stay for six days.

The capital administration has also made special arrangements. Close circuit cameras, scanners and walk-through gates had been installed at the entrance and other points of the shrine to keep a vigil on terrorists.