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| Sufi shrines of Jammu, epitome of communal harmony | | | KUNAL SHRIVATSA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 23: They make religious lines blur. Shahzad and Mukesh, a devout Muslim and a devout Hindu don't think twice about their respective religious affiliations while visiting Sufi shrines spread across Jammu city as their faith in the epitomes of communal harmony of not only yesteryears but of present times also, is supreme.
Come Thursdays and roads leading to several Sufi shrines in the winter capital of the state wore a festive look since a sea of humanity, belonging to different communities, converges at these century old 'dargahs'.
Another popular occasion for visiting the shrines is during the 'Urs' celebrations of the immortal saints. For some visiting the shrines is simply devotion and reverence and for many others, however, it is the unflinching hope and faith that their requests would meet through the mediation of these Sufi- saints. It is common for all including Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs who offer prayers at temples, Mosques and Gurdwaras also visit dargahs in order to have their wishes granted.
For lakhs of devotees, the Sufi shrines are undoubtedly seen as seats of invisible power that one can, through proper devotion, access, and not necessarily as specifically 'Islamic' or 'Muslim' religious place in a narrow sense.
A large number of people of all faiths have made it a ritual to pay obeisance on every Thursday at Sufi Shrine of Peer Buddan Shah at Chatha near Airport, Panj Pir at Manda near Amar Mahal, Pir Roshan Ali Shah popularly known as Nau Gajja Pir at Gummat, Pir Shahenshah Wali at Karan Nagar, Dargah of Baba Jeewan Shah in Mohalla Jeewan Shah, Dargah of Pir Mitha and Dargah of Pir Lakhdata- located in the heart of city in bazaars named after these saints, besides a number of other shrines in various parts of the city.
Mukesh, who is a regular visitor to many Sufi shrines of Jammu, had come to offer 'Chaddar' at the Sufi Shrine of Baba Buddan Shah since he got a promotion.
"For me visiting a Sufi shrine is somewhat a practice which I am following for the last ten years… I never failed to pay obeisance at Pir Baba Buddan Shah especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays… The saint helps everybody, irrespective of caste and creed." Mukesh maintained.
The shrines provide an arena where people of different communities participate together in common worship and devotion. Moreover, they are the unique institutions for promoting inter-community interaction at the religious level. Interestingly, the vast majority of those who visit the shrines are Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs.
Shahzad, a Marketing Executive and his wife had come to the shrine of Pir Baba Nau Gajja in Gummat area for seeking the blessings of revered saint after entering into wed lock a few days back. The couple offered special prayers at the Sufi Shrine. "Sufi shrines of Jammu are the true face of secular ethos of the city…… I adore Pir Baba as He is the one whom I look upon when in high spirits or in hour of crisis. It is He, who guides me every time…. I come here to seek His blessings for a happy married life."
Jammu's Sufi Shrines present a unique picture of city's matchless secular social fabric.
Despite the twenty year long phase of militancy which threatened the communal harmony of the state, unity in diversity still shines in these Sufi Shrines, binding people of different faiths together in a common cord- that of brotherhood and amity. |
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