SRINAGAR: Tens of thousands of devotees thronged the revered Baba Nagri shrine in Wangat, Ganderbal over the weekend to mark the 127th Urs of Sufi saint Hazrat Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanwi (RA).
The annual two-day Urs began on Friday and concluded on Saturday with joint prayers for peace, prosperity, and communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir. The event drew devotees from across Jammu and Kashmir including Rajouri, Poonch, Kishtwar, Doda, Udhampur, Shopian, Kupwara, and Bandipora.
Nightlong prayers, Quran Khawani, Darood Azkar, and Khatmat-ul-Mozamaat were held on Friday. The Saturday gathering featured a special sermon by Sajadh Nasheen Mian Altaf Ahmad, son of the late religious leader Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi, along with addresses by several Islamic scholars.
Mian Altaf urged the faithful to follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), maintain communal harmony, and protect youth from the scourge of drugs. He praised the late saint’s legacy of service and scholarship and noted a surge in attendance this year.
Speaking on the saint’s life, Maulana Ghulam Mohiuddin Naqashbandi recalled that Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanwi (RA), a Kashmiri by origin, had migrated to Hazara in present-day Pakistan before returning to Baba Nagri to preach Islam for over three decades. A prolific scholar, he authored works on Fiqh and Sufism, including Asrar-e-Kabaree and Malfoozat-e-Nizame.
The Urs coincides with the nomadic Gujjar migration, and many tribespeople arrived with livestock to offer prayers. Devotees, including families in traditional attire, lined the roads leading to the shrine.
A 24-hour langar was arranged for visitors, with special provisions made during the Urs. “Thousands are fed here every year during these sacred days,” said Mian Mehar Ali, part of the organising team.
The district administration, J&K Police, and Traffic Police were deployed for security and logistical arrangements. While expressing gratitude, Mian Altaf called for improved traffic management for future gatherings.
