Early Times Report
KISHTWAR, Nov 10: Like every year annual Urs of 17th century Sufi Saint Hazrat Shah Mohammad Asrar-ud-Din Baghdadi commonly known as Asrar Sahib was celebrated with religious fervour at Kishtwar. Several people from different parts of the state arrived in district Kishtwar and participated in prayers which continued for the whole night. The number of pilgrims this year is less as compared to previous years due to uncertainty and night curfew in Kishtwar town after the recent killing of BJP state Secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet Parihar.
On Saturday night, special prayers were also held inside the shrine of Asrar Sahib before the annual Urs will be declared as close tomorrow morning.
Police have also made elaborate security arrangement to deal with any law and order problem, beside to keep an eye on anti-national and criminal elements. Police personnel in civil dresses were also deployed in large numbers in and around both the shrines.
Several local people also thrown the doors of their homes open for the visiting pilgrims and welcomed them wholeheartedly. It is pertinent to mention that Sufism, a branch of Islam has been practiced in Kishtwar and Doda districts, where people of different faiths lived in harmony. Ancient manuscripts, in Persian, bear testimony to the fact that Sufism flourished in Chenab valley during the 15th century was spread by Sufi saints, who arrived in Chenab valley from different parts of the country. |
