A two-day annual Urs celebrations of Hazrat Mian Mir (RA) has started today (Sunday), reported the 24NewsHD TV channel.
Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Navi inaugurated the Urs after performing the traditional ‘chadar’ on the shrine of the great Sufi saint.
Special prayers were offered for the development and prosperity of the country and its people, and for peace and stability.
Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi also inaugurated and inspected the Library and Interfaith Dialogue Table. Naqvi appreciated the steps taken to promote inter-faith harmony among the citizens.
He also laid the foundation stone of the model Lungar Khana of Hazrat Mian Mir's shrine.
On the occasion, an agreement was signed between the Punjab Auqaf Department and the Madina Foundation for the construction of a model Lungar Khana.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said the government has made good arrangements to provide the best facilities to the devotees of Hazrat Mian Mir.
“Pilgrims who come to participate in Urs celebrations are our guests and we will take good care of them,” Mohsin Naqvi added.
Provincial Minister Azfar Ali Nasir, Aamir Mir, member board of revenue. secretary endowments, information secretary, DG Walled City Authority of Lahore, Rauit Hilal Committee Chairman Abdul Khabir Azad, and religious scholars attended the opening ceremony.
The representatives of Sikh, Hindu, and Christian communities and other officials were also present on the occasion.
During the two-day 400th Urs celebrations, religious and spiritual meetings would be held and Ulema would highlight the teachings of the saint. Mehfil-e-Samaa will be held in which renowned “Qawals” will perform. It is pertinent to note that the Urs of Hazrat Mian Mir will be held between the 7th to 8th of Rabi-ul-Awal under the aegis of the Punjab Department.
It is an ancient tradition to start the Urs with diyas and the pilgrims who light diyas come here to offer their prayers. It is said that the prayer of this famous person of the Indian subcontinent had such an effect that it also attracted the Mughal emperor Jahangir to his door.
His lineage traces back to Hazrat Umar (May God bless him and give him peace). Mian Mir was also the father-in-law of the eldest son of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
Hazrat Mian Mir died in 1635 at the age of 88. Both Muslims and Sikhs visit his dargah and shower flowers of devotion.