Amidst tension prevailing in the bilateral relation between the two neighbours, as many as 148 pilgrims from Pakistan reached the State on Friday to participate in 748th annual Urs (death anniversary) fair being held at the famous Piran Kaliyar shrine near Roorkee. It was kicked off on December 1.
Situated at a distance of 20 km from Haridwar on the banks of the Ganga canal, the mega fair beckons thousands of pilgrims every year.
Famed for its mystical power it is believed to hold for the devotees, Kaliyer Sharif which is the burial place of a Sufi Sant Alla Uddin Ali Ahmad Sabir received footfalls of Pakistani Zaireens every year. However, this year, uncertainty prevailed for some time with the border tension escalating.
On Friday evening, a batch of 148 Zaireens reached Piran Kaliyar Sharif through Amritsar Express. The locals welcomed them warmly. The pilgrims from the neighbouring state said they had come with message of universal brotherhood from Pakistan.
Mohammand Ur Nur Hasan of Pakistan told The Pioneer, “For the past 72 years, the common men (Awam) of Pakistan have been striving to bring about a lasting peace and brotherhood in the sub-continent. The two neighbours must learn to live in peace. There is no other alternative.” Another pilgrim Zaireen from lahore said he had longed to have darshan at Piran Kaliyar and his dream had been fulfilled.
These pilgrims would return after spending a week in Roorkee. Meanwhile, the district administration had completed all arrangements like temporary shelters, shops, lighting, toilets and tents to ensure that the pilgrims do not face any difficulty.