Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Oct 09
Thousands of devotees gathered at the shrine of Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani (RA) at Charar-e-Sharief in central Kashmir’s Budgam district on Friday to mark his annual Urs.
Known as Sheikh-ul-Alam and Alamdar-e-Kashmir, the saint is revered across the Valley for his spiritual teachings and emphasis on peace and coexistence.
Men, women and elderly devotees attended special prayers and the Friday congregational prayer at the shrine. Many recited verses associated with the saint and sought blessings, continuing a tradition observed by families across generations.
The main Urs coincided with Friday after the government shifted the provincial holiday in Kashmir from October 8 to October 9.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board’s programme, the observances began on Wednesday with the traditional Poshak Bandi, the ceremonial changing of the cloth covering the saint’s grave. Shab Khawani followed on Thursday night.
Inspector General of Police Kashmir Sujit Kumar visited the shrine and reviewed security and law-and-order arrangements.
He said police and Central Reserve Police Force personnel were working with the shrine’s administration committee, while the civil administration, ambulance services and Fire and Emergency Services had also been deployed.
The arrangements were aimed at ensuring the safety of devotees, managing the movement of visitors and preventing inconvenience during the gathering, Kumar said.
He congratulated personnel involved in managing the event and said he had prayed for peace, tranquillity and progress in Jammu and Kashmir, including for the police force.
Preparations had earlier been reviewed by then Budgam Deputy Commissioner Athar Aamir Khan, who visited the shrine and inspected ongoing development work.
These included an under-construction guest house with 12 rooms and two halls.
