Annual Urs at Sufi Shrine

The annual Urs – death anniversary— of revered Kashmiri saint, Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom (RA) is observed every year on the 24th of Safar, the second month in the Islamic calendar, with fervor and gaiety. Hazrat Sheikh Hamza Makhdoom sahib, popularly known as Makdoom Sahib and Sultan-Ul-Arifeen meaning ‘King of Gnostics’, is highly revered by Kashmiri muslims and his shrine located on the southern side of the Hari Parbhat hill in downtown Srinagar Kashmir , is thronged by thousands of people during the 13-day Urs.

Sufi Saint had played a vital role in the diffusion of religious and spiritual education, social and political consciousness among Kashmiri muslims. He inherited the mysticism, from the very childhood was inclined to the company of holy men, and to the truth. Kashmiri Muslims have been paying obeisance at the shrine for nearly 500 years now.

He not only guided people in religious studies but there are thousands who were benefited from his spiritual powers.  Apart from the annual Urs, thousands of people visit the shrine usually on thursdays and mondays, besides every 13th of the Islamic calendar to pay obeisance.

A man prays infront of wall, tied with thousand of colored cloth pieces (votives) 

at the Makhdoom Sahib Shrine in Srinagar, Kashmir. 

General view of the  Makhdoom Sahib Shrine which  is located on the southern side of Hari Parbat Hill in  Srinagar  kashmir . The  shrine  is double storied, in the name of the Sufi saint Makhdoom Sahib  popularly    known as  Sultan-Ul-Arifeen. Thousands of Kashmiri Muslims who believe in Sufism    throng the shrine  to offer prayers.

 

 A  Kashmiri man prays at the mausoleum of Sheikh Hamza, popularly known as Makhdoom Sahib, on a hillock in Srinagar, Kashmir during the annual Urs – death anniversary - of the 16th century muslim saint.