The soil of Sindh bears religious purity, as it is the place where
the flag of Islam was hosted for the first time. Sufi leader Laal Shahbaz
Qalandar spread the message of pureness in every knock and corner. With great
pomp and show, the Urs of the Sufi leader is celebrated by the devotees for
three days. Music, dance, traditional food and culture of Sindh reflect out
during the Urs. The present generation seems to be unaware of the beauty of
culture this place has and historical tales that are attached with the
leadaer Laal Shahbaz.
The shrine of Laal Qalndar which stands tall and can be observed
from a far off place was renovated by the great Mughal conqueror Akbar and then
by Kalhoras who gifted the soil with Sindhi Kashi tiles and mirror work. The main
door of the shrine is Gold plated which was gifted by Shah of Iran for this
religious place.
Sehwan attracts thousands of devotees during those three days,
songs of Abida Parveen seems to provoke the Sufi soul in devotees and announces the beginning of Urs, and people start to get up on their feet
and dance on “dama dam mast qalandar” lyrics. The dhammalan escatic swirl of the head and the body, includes
men and women to dance on the beats of naqqara, a big barrel drum, together as if they are celebrating the achievements of Qalandar. The
Urs along with its religious colors, has its economic value as well, from the bus
conductors to the local shop keepers all seems to profit a lot during the Urs.
Beside the shrine of Qalandar, his two devotees also attract
people. Bodla Bahr and Jumman Jate, just as Abdullah Shah Ghazi as it is said saves
people of Karachi from floods; Jumman Jute’s grave near water saves the people
of Sehwan from flood and any other natural disaster. Beside the shrine of
Qalandar is ‘Laal Bagh’ where there is greenery. Qalandar preached Islam near a
tree in this Bagh. The tree still stands today, which is 800 years old and is
seen as a symbol of religious purity by the devotees. People who came to visit
the shrine also visit the bagh and some devotees pass under this tree to get
spiritual blessings and their wishes to get fulfilled.
Terrorism seems to lose its feet near this place and never a heart-rending
news is heard except the heat that kills a few. Those three days are marked as
the cultural identity of Sindh as the true colors of Sindh spring out, Malakhro
(wrestling), Sughran Jee Katchery (talks of the folks), musical concert,
dhammal and Adabi conference try to reflect the historic culture of Sindh. Yet
the present generation is unconscious of the culture Sufism has with it, and
they seem to be interested in the western culture.
We live in an age of science, yet the place attracts thousands of
people who gather as if a mela is being staged. On the other hand, the
youngsters are unconscious of this essence which the Sufism culture embodies
and do not feel that pleasure in their veins. For them, Urs of Qalandar is just
another public holiday. Our course books need to comprise chapters which talk
about the culture of Sehwan and the contribution of Laal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Likewise, the historical palace of Mahraja Sehbastan, also known as Chupat Raja,
should be given a thought by the Culture Department of Sindh. As it is our
heritage.
Neither the power of crowns and Kings, nor the might of armies equals the force of a Qalandar.
