Devotees throng to Bhitshah as Khuhro inaugrates Urs

HYDERABAD: Multitudes of the devotees turned up in Bhitshah on Monday to celebrate the 268th Urs of Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai which was formally inaugurated by Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro.

Accompanied by the Provincial Ministers Sassui Palijo, Haseeb Khan and Muhammad Rafique Bhanbhan, Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) member Rabita Committee Ashfaq Mangi and MQM's Zonal Incharge Hyderabad Muhammad Sharif, the Speaker laid chaddar and offered "Fateha" at the shrine.

Talking to media on the occasion, Khuhro said people of Sindh feel privileged that Shah Bhitai belonged to their province.

"Bhitai's philosophy of love, brotherhood and tolerance has always been a guideline for the people of Sindh," he observed.

Khuhro said the government wanted to develop the shrine and rehabilitate Bhitai's haveli, however, the work was delayed owing to a confusion among the concerned departments.

"After the 18th amendment, the antiquities department was formed and it claimed authority over the haveli which hitherto remained under the Auqaf Department," he explained.

Khuhro, however, informed that a PC-I for the project has been approved and the work would begin soon.

In reply to a question, the Speaker said that if the expansion and beautification work of the shrine was slowly progressing but it would be expedited after the release of funds.

Sindh Culture Minister Sassui Palijo while talking to the media on the occasion said the culture department had arranged a number of programs to highlight the Bhitai's message.

She said a number of intellectuals, writers and historians from foreign countries would attend the Adabi (literary) conference slated for the second day of the Urs. Provincial minister Abdul Haseeb Khan said the message of Bhitai had a unifying force which if adopted would remove all differences in the society. A flood of devotees nurturing different beliefs in their hearts about Bhitai converged on this 14th day of Islamic month of Safar on the shrine.Besides the shrine the devotees also enjoyed a host of arrangements made for their entertainment and the bazaars selling edibles, clothes and toys set up for them.

Also enchanting is a visit to the museum where the avatar statues of characters of Shah's poetry are displayed while for taking pleasure from watching a picturesque beauty a contemplating stare at the splendid Karar Lake located in the foreground of mausoleum of famous Sindhi poet Shaikh Ayaz satiates the desire.

But for intellectual activity, Adabi conference is the most significant feature of the events arranged in connection with the Urs. Aside from the hurly-burly and fever pitch of the Urs are the two hushed havelis of Shah Bhitai.

The one located in the premises of the shrine has 3 rooms where Bhitai lived with his family. Despite its heritage import, the roof of the room occupied in his life by Latif Bhitai himself has caved in.

Beautification plan of Bhitshah town which encompasses an array of development initiatives ranging from education, health to infrastructure is being carried out under the provincial minister Jameeluz Zaman. The Sajjada Nashin (caretaker) family of Shah Bhitai is also seeking further expansion and beautification of the shrine. (APP)