Local holiday announced: Lahorites to enjoy long weekend

LAHORE: Residents of Lahore will enjoy a long weekend as, in addition to the August 14 public holiday, another local holiday has been announced for August 15 to mark the Urs of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh.

The district administration has issued a notification declaring August 15 a public holiday for the Urs of Hazrat Ali Hujwiri, widely known as Data Ganj Bakhsh,  one of the most revered Sufi saints in the subcontinent.

With Independence Day on August 14, followed by the Urs holiday on August 15 and the weekend, Lahore will have a four-day break.

URS OF HAZRAT DATA GANJ BAKSH

The three-day Urs celebrations of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh began today at Data Darbar in Lahore’s Data Ganj Bakhsh Town, Punjab.

Grand ceremony tonight to mark Marka-e-Haq, I-Day celebrations

The programme features Qirat, Naat recitations, and Sama (Sufi music) gatherings. Traditional langar and Grand ceremony tonight to mark Marka-e-Haq, I-Day celebrationsmilk stalls have been set up, while vendors selling sweets and religious items have lined the streets around the shrine.

The Urs celebrations, from August 13 to 15, are expected to draw thousands of devotees from across Pakistan.

Large gatherings of devotees, many led by their spiritual leaders and local Gaddi Nasheens, have started arriving at the brightly illuminated shrine. They marched to the beat of drums, reciting naats and hymns.