Urs begins at Shahjalal (R) shrine

Sylhet Bureau :

The annual Urs of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet, a 700-year-old tradition, has begun with the spreading of gilaf. Shahjalal’s Urs means the gathering of thousands of devotees and worshippers at the shrine. Obscenity used to be accompanied by dancing and singing of the devotees. Holding a Gaza Asar was also a common thing. However, this time, the Urs activities have started by breaking the tradition and stopping anti-social behavior and obscenity.
The Urs formalities began on Sunday morning.
Visiting the shrine premises, it was seen that this time the devotees and worshippers did not hold gatherings in the shrine area like other years. The police have taken strict steps to stop anti-social behavior and obscenity. The presence of the police has also been noticeable since the morning. However, there is a question as to how much anti-social behavior will be prevented in the end.
It is known that every year, the Urs of Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) is held for two days on the 19th and 20th of the Arabic month of Zilqad. Every year, thousands of devotees from different parts of the country gather at the shrine of Shahjalal during the Urs. The Urs formalities begin with the removal of the gilaaf at the shrine.
Meanwhile, this year, the administration and the shrine authorities have taken various steps to stop anti-social behavior and complete the Urs peacefully. The administration has already exchanged views with people of all parties in Sylhet in order to complete the Urs peacefully and orderly by protecting the sanctity of the shrine.
Visiting the shrine area of Shahjalal, it was seen that devotees and fans of the shrine have gathered from different parts of the country. The Urs formalities begin with the spreading of the gilaaf by the shrine authorities at around 10 am. Devotees and fans are entering the shrine in groups. The slogans of ‘Lal Lal, Baba Shahjalal’ are heard all around the shrine area.
Meanwhile, every year during the Urs, devotees hang a canopy around the shrine and hold Asar. However, no Asar was seen since Sunday morning. Devotees were seen sitting in a place behind the shrine and offering Milad. In addition, in addition to setting up temporary police boxes for overall security, members of the law enforcement agencies responsible for security were seen to be active.
Earlier, Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Commissioner Md. Rezaul Karim visited the shrine area on Friday afternoon on the occasion of Urs. Later, he held a meeting with journalists at the shrine mosque premises.
At the meeting, the Police Commissioner said that this year’s Urs will be completed by avoiding shirk and bid’ah activities. CCTV cameras have been installed in the shrine premises for the safety of devotees. In addition to the uniformed police members, members of the law enforcement agencies in plain clothes will be on duty in the shrine premises. To create awareness, leaflets have been distributed and posters have been placed in the shrine yard so that no one prostrates at the shrine without prayers and does not engage in shirk-bihadat activities. Women will stay with the veil. In addition, the monitoring committee will keep an eye on the issue of no one hosting alcohol and marijuana gatherings.