LAHORE, May 2: The 958th annual Urs of Hazrat Abul Hasan Ali bin Usman Hajveri, popularly known as Data Ganj Bakhsh, started on Thursday.

Punjab Governor Lt-Gen Khalid Maqbool (retired) formally inaugurated the three-day Urs celebrations by laying floral wreaths at the shrine amid great hustle and bustle on Thursday night.

He also inaugurated the milk sabeel outside the shrine of the patron saint of Lahore.

The milkmen of the provincial metropolis and adjoining localities supply pure milk for the devotees who visit the shrine during the Urs from all over the country.

A three-day ‘mela’ also started with the Urs. Spread from Urdu Bazaar Chowk to Attiq Stadium adjacent to the Badshahi Mosque along Circular Road, it has entertainments like circus and the ‘well of death’ besides stalls of foodstuffs and general merchandise of all kinds.

A Mahfil-i-qawwali was held at the Data Darbar Mosque throughout the Thursday night. Qawwals from all over the country enthralled the devotees.

A Mafil-i-samaa will begin at the Samaa Hall on Friday night and will continue till the morning of May 4.

A congregation of the preachers will also be held at the mosque on May 3 and 4.