The Sindh government has declared a public holiday across the province on August 9 in honour of the annual Urs of the revered Sufi poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.
Sindh’s Secretary for Culture, Muhammad Khan, shared that preparations for the 282nd Urs, which will begin on Saturday, are now complete.
He also mentioned that the Minister for Culture has invited the Governor of Sindh to officially inaugurate the three-day celebrations.
To ensure everything runs smoothly, all departments concerned have been placed on high alert. In Hyderabad, a ban has also been imposed on the public display of weapons during the festivities, with an official notice already issued.
Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is widely regarded as the greatest Sufi poet in Sindhi literature and is considered the national poet of Sindh.
His famous work, Shah Jo Risalo, is often compared to Rumi’s Mathnawi for its profound spiritual and poetic expression. His poetry carries themes of love, peace, and mysticism, and continues to resonate with people today.
Every year, his Urs is held on the 14th of Safar, the second Islamic month, drawing devotees from across Sindh to his shrine in Bhit Shah.
The three-day observance features prayers, music, poetry recitals, and cultural activities. To honour his legacy, a 16-foot statue of Bhittai was erected at Bhit Shah in 2017.