Urs Baba Bulleh Shah 2024

Urs Baba Bulleh Shah, 2024.

The 267th annual commemoration (Urs) of the death of Baba Bulleh Shah was marked at his shrine in Kasur, Punjab, from 30th August to 1st September 2024. A local Public holiday had been declared by the authorities and strict security measures were in place. The event proved to be one of the biggest ever and took organisers by surprise. Devotees of all religions thronged to the shrine from all over the world. Some arrived in forms of processions to lay beautifully decorated blankets (Chadhurs) on the grave of the great Sufi Saint and others covered it with flowers. Baba Bulleh Shah’s poetry was sung in the traditional qawwali style by eminent performers of this style, with the audience giving in to the urge to dance. Some dancers performed the dances with such intensity (Dhumal) that they became entranced and lost themselves in the power of the poetry and the rhythm of the music.

The event always attracts mystics, wandering holy men (Fakirs), Sufis and Dervishes and many wear brightly coloured costumes and bells. Red and green are popular colours but saffron is also widespread. There is also a large attendance by Hindu and Sikh devotees from all over South Asia as Baba Bulleh Shah did not discriminate between Faiths and taught that there was light in all religions.

There are as many women present as men, if not more and they mingle freely through the crowds, without segregation. They participate in all the events, including dancing and many go into trance-like states. These actions of singing and dancing are strictly prohibited for women in an Islamic society and would not be tolerated outside of the shrine compound. But here at the shrine of a Saint who taught equality of all, regardless of race or gender, there is a freedom for women to behave as they please without being segregated to the back of the congregation. This is why they come to seek the help of the great Sufi to intercede on their behalf with the Supreme and fulfil their heartfelt desires such as having a son or overcoming illness or finding an understanding husband. They tie colourful threads to the grills of the shrine and make their wishes (Minnat) promising to return with grateful thanks when these wishes have been fulfilled.

All attendees are fed throughout the event and indeed food is provided (Langar) free to all who come to the shrine throughout the year, paid for by donations made to the shrine. Rich, poor, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, all are served equally.

So, what is it about Baba Bulleh Shah’s poetry and philosophy that still draws people from all over the world, to his shrine, 267 years after his death? What is it about his thought that resonates so deeply within people even in this modern technological age? The answer is that it is almost like Baba Bulleh Shah was born 300 years before his time, because what he taught then is only just being adopted by modern societies.