Asalam o alaikum all Fukra
Jamaidul Sani 1444 Mubarak
Diyara of Sain Abdul Sattar Sani and Sain Shah Qalandar Datta Peer considered as “The semi annual mela” which will start from 16 January 2023 – 20th January 2023
Sain Izzat Allah Shah Gundh Peer Diyara
Jamaidul Sani 12, 1444/ January 5th, 2023
1 Raag
Shah Shaheed Satreen Jamaidul Sani 17 , 1444/ January 10, 2023
2 Raag
Sain Abdul Sattar Shah Sani diyara Jamaidul Sani 23-24, 1444/ January 16-17 2023
3 Raags
Shah Qalandar Datta Peer Diyara Jamaidul Sani 26-27 , 1444/ January 19-20 , 2023
Mela 2022 documentary
By : Master Ansar
While the 17th Safar and its Wednesday. The day started with pleasant weather. At around 9:10 a.m. in the morning, at the Roza Mubarak (burial place) of the Shah Shaheed, there will be a sama raag(verses sung without instruments) in the courtyard, here would like to explain that verses sung without music is called “samaa raag” and verses sung with instruments is called “Kachehri”. For the notification of this raag three dhamals (repeated drum beats) are played so that the attendees are informed that the raag of sama is about to start at Rosa Mubarak. Where drums are placed and sounded is called “Negarchi khana” negar is type of drum. As Sujjada Nishin or Wali Ahed(next successor) ascends for the sama raag, along with the drum beat the Kokhar faqeer also beats the copper cymbol, which is the announcement that Sahib Karim or Sain Zubair are approaching roza sharif for the sama raag. Today is the first sama raag of mela. There are three chords in the melody of sama raag. 1st called “Dahr” , 2nd called Wahago”, 3rd called “Ranro”. In sama raag verses written by Sain Sadiq Shah of Aher are recited. Sama raag is lead my me. Since 1974, diligently I have been performing this duty. Before me, Master Abdul Hussain Surhiyo Sahib used to lead the raag of sama. Before that Master Mohamed Qasim Surhriyo used to lead. My teacher was master Akhund Muhammad Qasim Surheyo Sahib may Allah give him high place in heaven.
Sama raag ended at 9:45am. Soofi Sain Zubairdin Sahib leading the crowd proceeded towards Qasr e Qalandar. In negarchikhana the negar was being beat until Sain Zubairdin reached Qasr e Qalandar , they handed their geru cloth to Iftikhar Lagari and started greeting attendees.
The process of meeting with the attendees lasted almost two and a half hours. Later, when Sain Zubair-ud-Din went to Sahib Karim’s chamber, Sahib Karim were in conversation with few faqeers. Asked “Zubair did you attend Shah Shaheed sama raag, may Lord accept (the service)” Now the noon time is approaching, by the order of Hazrat Sahib Karim a table cloth(called dastarkhana) is laid on floor in the big hall. Faqeer Mahesh Kumar from Hyderabd supervised the lunch arrangement. Once food was set up Sahib were informed. They stepped out from their chamber and sat in hall at their place set. At the dastarkhana were devotees from Dubai, America, Bombay and many Pakistanis. Next to Sahib sat their sons Sufi Zubairdin, Sufi Nizamuddin and Sufi Humairdin Sahib and some of their extended family from Tajjal Sharif and also Soofi Abid alais Chief Sahib.
In the meantime, the son of Loung Faqeer Manghahar, the in-charge of the Negarchi khana, came to ask for the time of the evening kacheri annoucements. This faqeer was informed of the schedule. Hazrat Sahib Karim after lunch went to his room and said to me “wake me up after the second negar beat(drum beat ) to prepare for the evening kachehri. We will rest now.”
As today is the second day of the urs, the first sound of the drumbeat is heard. The cleaning and necessary work going on the ground for evening kachehri, cleaning and making cushion from straws where Sahib Karim preside. Now soon there will be a second drumbeat, then the scene on the field will be different. Now the second drumbeat has started. Compared to yesterday, the attendees have increased in number. Everyone was gathering in the arena from 5 o’clock to listen to the music and see the spiritual leader closely. As the time draws near, the crowd grows in the field. Groups of devotees can be seen from all sides. Volunteers today are on high alert to ensure that no mishaps take place. One side of the field is reserved for women.
Now Hazrat Sahib were informed about the second drumbeat. They prepared for the evening kachehri and ordered me to come back after having crown and geru cloth ready . I obeyed the order. While placing the crown, I saw that the Faqeer Izhar Dakhan and Sain Naban of the Sufi Faqeer were also waiting for Sahib Karim. Some other faqeers were also waiting. Now it was only 15 minutes before the third drum beat, and then the third drum beat started. Hazrat Sahib Karim came and sat at their presiding place in Qasr Qalandar. I was waiting to hand them crown and geru cloth. Outside standing were Dr. Mohammad Jamil Brohi Sahib, who will signal the arrival of Sain Soofi Sarfraz of Fatehpur. As he informed that Sain Soofi Sarfraz is approaching the kachehri ground. I handed the Taj Mubarak(crown) to Sahib Karim, he handed over the sindhi cap to me, they wore the Taj Mubarak, wrapped geru cloth and took asa( the cane) in hand and proceeded towards kachehri ground. Sain Soofi Sarfraz and Sahib Karim, presided at their respective place. Kachehri is started by kalaams sung by Shafi Faqeer from Sain Sadiq Faqeer of Aher . He is permitted to sing five kalaams. After Shafi Faqeer, kalaams are sung by Sain Sarfaraz faqeers . Today the attendance is high. Few minutes before magrib azan me and Sain Azim would move forward and stand close to Sahib Karim giving indication to all that the kachehri is about to end. Sain Sarfaraz team started the last kalaam. Todays kachehri came to end and Sahib Karim proceeded to Qasre Qalandar.
They sat in the lobby of Qasre Qalandar. As routine I took Taj Mubarak, geru cloth and cane from Sahib Karim and handed them sindhi cap. Handed Taj Mubarak, geru cloth and cane to my son Iftikar to be kept in cupboard in Sahib Karim chamber. Devotees were greeting Sahib Karim in rows. Than they got up and went to their room and performed magrib namaz.
Dargah Sharif is fully illuminated with colorful bulbs and light strings. Tonight is called the second night of the festival. At night, the sama raag is performed after the Isha prayer. In this sama raag, according to the custom, the nightly raag is recited in three notes ( three different pitch)
1. note Samundi, 2. note Kanbhat and 3. Leelan note, after reciting the prayer, Sain leads the fukra and ascend towards Qasr Qalandar. According to the custom, the sound of drum beat keeps playing continuously in the Nigarchi Khania along with the cymbal until Sain reach their destination, after arriving at Qasr Qalandar, taj mubarak , asa and geru cloth is handed over to Iftikhar. And Sain Zubair start meeting the fukra. This goes on for atleast hour and half. Than they go to visit Sahib Karim in their chamber and order for dinner to be served.The incharge started setting the dinner cloth on floor(dastarkhana) and half an hour later Sahib Karim came to dastarkhana, his sons and other family members were with him. Many devotees from foreign countries and some heads of affiliated dargahs were also present at the dinner. After dinner, Sain Ali Akbar Sahib’s elder son with his team were seen going for riyazat (visit to graves) while singing kalaams(spiritual songs) and playing music. Tonite according to the custom, Sain Sarfaraz Sahib arrived at Qasr Qalandar along with his family members and followers They went to Sahib Karim Chambers only accompanied by few followers and rest stayed outside at Qasre Qalandar lounge. After half an hour, Sain Sarfaraz came out and again, according to the same ritual, they returned to their quarters along with the followers. There is a musical program at Qasr Qalandar from twelve o’clock midnight. Different groups are assigned to sing kalaams. Awaiting Sahib Karim arrival. Devotees have started arriving at Qasr Qalandar. God willing, after a while, Hazrat Sahib Karim Sahib will also come and the music festival will start. Followers devotees performed till 3:30 a.m. Later, Hazrat Sahib Karim Sahib went to their chamber. Sahib Karim instructed everyone that the fakirs should now retire to their respective quarters(called “baris”) do zikr.
Hazrat Sahib Karim went to their quarters and we started the asr(time before dawn) dhikr following his orders. According to the guidance of Saint Shah Qalandar Datta Pir and following the footsteps of Saint Sadiq Shah, we should atleast recite ten to twenty verses and zikr(Allah Allah) ten to fifteen times after each verse. We closed the series of dhikr by praying for all the devotees, followers and for our murshid family. After a while, the Fajr(dawn) azan came, and all the followers started praying(namaz). After namaz and the blessing of recital of Quran Sharif, the son of Loung Faqeer Manghanhar came to ask about the time of the morning samaa raag.
By Master Ansar
According to the tradition, it takes three times the drum and cymbal beats for the announcement of samaa raag. Loung Faqeer’s son was given time of samaa raag as per the order. He left to implement this program. First, second and third time when the drum beats, Sufi Zubairuddin Sain started to prepare for the raag. My son Iftikhar Ali presented them with geru wrap and Asa(the cane) mubarak. Due to my health and restriction in movements I reached at Roza Shareef a little earlier. The attendance of the devotees is high. Every faqeer tries to sit close to the reciters and try to hear the verses of the sama raag easily. First raag is “ Rap” , second notes “ Asa” and third “Sur marii” were performed at today’s Sama Raag.
Here, I consider it necessary to write the names of the faqeers and explain them in order they recite verses of sama raag. Master Ansar that’s me, I am the lead recitor along with me is my teacher Akhund Mohammed Qasim’s second son Aata Hussain Sahib than the recitors as following 1. Iftikhar Ali,(my son) 2. Abdul Hussain Jaskani, 3. Vishandas, the eldest son of Sufi Atma Ram, who is called by Hazrat Sahib Karim or other devotees as “horse faqeer”, 4. The son of Kaki Dhani Bakhsh Faqeer, who is remembered as “sadr” means leader, these faqeers will follow our lead in reciting. The melody of sama lasted 45 minutes. After praying according to the customs, we proceeded towards Qasre Qalandar along with Sain Zubair, according to the same ritual, the sound of the drum beat and cymbol was heard as we proceeded back. Now all attendees got to know that today sama raag has come to an end. After reaching Qasre Qalandar, Sain Zubair handed over geru wrap and Asa Mubarak to Iftikhar, they started meeting the attendees. After greeting as per tradition, the attendees left. This went on for an hour then Sain Zubair went into the Sahib Karim room, the other followers all went to Bhandara( mass ) for lunch. Today more attendees have arrived in a very large number. That’s why Bhandara Sharif(mass where food is prepared and served) is also very busy. Because they have to provide three meals for the attendees. Followers have come from afar in devotion bearing many hardships. Like last year, this year as well, many from India, Dubai and Europe and America have arrived with their families to visit their Murshid and pay respect to the graves of martyrs.
At around 1:30 p.m., the dastarkhana(floor table mat) was set in Qasr Qalandar and for lunch Sahib Karim and his sons and other followers who always dine with Sahib Karim arrived at the dastarkhana. Everyone arrived at the dastarkhana, and Sahib Karim presided at their place. After half an hour, Sahib Karim retired to their chamber and rested.
It is the third kachehri of mela in the evening. The sound of 1st drum beat was heard. As time goes by, a person does not know how the days have passed. Soon the 2nd drum beat is heard, now I have reached the chamber of Hazrat Sahib Karim, I can see they are resting. It is also necessary to wake them and I thought it is not appropriate to disturb from rest. At once I remembered their conversation that Baba “Obedience is more important than principle”. This thought directed me the course of action.
I approached Sahib Karim to wake them up slowly, they got up and performed ablution as to prepare for kachehri, I placed Taj Mubarak, geru cloak and Asa Mubarak at the place where Sahib Karim preside in Qasre Qalandar and I came back to chamber, we walked towards Qasr Qalandar lounge. At Qasr Qalandar, the two faqeers those who are honored and given taj mubarak (mentioned by name before), and the other faqeers were waiting for Sahib Karim arrival. Third drum beat was heard and all on duty stood alert. From outside informed that Sain Sarafaraz approaching the kachehri grounds. As usual, I presented Taj Mubarak, Geru Cloak and Asa Mubarak to Sahib Karim. They put on the Taj Mubarak, wrapped the geru cloak oaround their shoulders and held Asa Mubarak in right hand and proceeded towards kachehri grounds. Once Sahib Karim presided, Faqeers start singing.
Shafi Fakir started the kalaams with the verses of Sain Sadiq Shah of Umerkot. After singing four kalaams(spiritual songs), Sain Sarfaraz( head of fathepur Dargah) started along with his faqeers singing Sain Rakhyal Shah kalaams. As they complete 6 kalams and start the seventh, after half kalam is sung, I and Sufi Abdul Azim Sahib walked towards and stood closer to Hazrat Sahib Karim. Indication to Sain Sarfaraz and faqeers that it’s the last kalam. As the kalaam completed and Sain Sarfaraz signaled to his faqeers to end the kachehri. The kachehri ends. According to our duty, we walked on the side of Sahib Karim and arrived at Qasr Qalandar. Iftikhar Ali took away the Taj Mubarak and all the belongings and Asa to be kept inside the chamber. I presented Sahib Karim with a sindhi cap, and they started greeting the devotees. All the faqeers devotees stand in a row and each one greet Sahib Karim and goes back to his own place after greeting his murshid.
There are lights everywhere in Dargah Sharif. Local and foreigners came and met with each other under the pretext of Urs Mubarak. Today’s Kachehri that took place was the third and last kachehri of the urs mubarak. According to the rituals of Dargah Sharif, there will be a raag in the evening, in which seven verses will be recited. After that, joint prayer will be offered. This is called the final pray, after meeting the devotees, Sahib Karim have gone to their chamber. Many faqeer are waiting for Sahib Karim inside the chamber. After performing the Maghrib prayer, they met the faqeers and chatted with them. The faqeer incharge of Nagarchi Khana(the drum beat room) came to ask the time of the night raag. According to Sahib Karim I told time of night raag, also I gave this faqeer the time of the drum beats and soon after, the sound of the first drum beat was heard. Forty five minutes later, the sound was heard for the second drum beat. I requested Sain Zubairdin to prepare for the night raag. After getting ready, Sain left the room and presided on cushion placed in hall of Qasre Qalanda . Honored faqeers with Taj Mubarak were already waiting. Many other faqeers were also waiting for the blessing. My son Iftikhar Ali brought geru cloth and Asa Mubarak from chamber and sat near Sain Zubair and now the third drum beat was heard. Sain Zubair wrapped geru cloak, held Asa mubarak in their right hand, and proceeded to Dargah Sharif for the night raag. The sound of drum beat and cymbol continued from the Nagarchi Khana, and the devotees attending urs were following Sain Zubairdin with respect. As Sain presided at their place in yard of rosa sharif, the sound of drum beat stopped. Faqeers started the night raag. In the melody of this night’s Sama raag, verses are chanted according to the custom in folowing tunes. 1. Kalyan, 2. Ghato, 3. Suhrin. Tonight 45 minutes of Sama raag was recited.
Later, after dua, Sain started towards Qasre Qalandar. The sound of drum beat started from the nagarchi khana. From that sound, it is a notification for every faqeer that the night’s sama’s raag has ended and Sahib Sujjada / or Wali Ahed Sahib have proceeded towards Qasre Qalandar. They reached Qasr Qalandar after 10 minutes, Sain handed over the cloak and Asa Mubarak to Iftikhar Ali and after greeting with the faqeers went towards the chambar of Sahib Karim who were engaged in conversation with some of the faqeers. After dinner Sahib Karim started preparing for riyazat (visiting rosa shareef and all graves ). Along with the security guard and other devotees, they left for riyazat. First Sahib Karim as per tradition went directly to Sain Rakhyal Shah bari(lodge) to meet Sain Sarfaraz Ali Sahib, , and they stayed there for half an hour. Bid farewell. Then headed towards bari(lodge) of Faqeer Imamdin where Fakir Izhar Ali Dakhan, who is the eldest son of Faqeer Sahib, stayed for half hour, than proceeded towards Rosa Shareef tomb of Shah Shaheed and Shah Shaheed brothers and nephew, then proceeded to big Chowkhandi Shareef where Sain Shah Qalandar Datta pir and other sujjada nashins and family members are laid to rest, there are total 17 graves . Then paid respect to Sain Abdul Sattar Shah Sani laid to rest at small Chowkhandi Shareef where also are Sahib Karim father Sain Irshad Abbas, Sahib Karim grand mother and mother and other extended family.
Small Chowkandi Shareef is restricted to public, general public pay respect only from outside the boundary walls. After riyazat Sahib Karim returned to Qasre Qalandar. After half hour they started giving zikr to new desciples. First ladies were in que than gents , this went on until sunrise. At fajr they performed namaz, then had tea and then rested. We again started the preparation of morning raag. This is the last raag commemorating the end of Shah Shaheed Urs Mubarak. Seven notes are recited in the melody of Sama. Today is called the khatma( day of end). After the first time drum beat, 45 minutes later, the sound of the second drum beat was heard, then the third time for today’s Sama’s raag, and Sain Zubairuddin Sufi Sahib, along with the faqeers, left for Roza Sharif. Today raag was recited in following melodies. 1. Dhanasari, 2. Muki, 3. Sarang, 4. Sasai, 5. Saruth, 6. Kedaru and 7. Bilal. After the raag of sama, collective prayers are recited for the welfare and betterment of all Muslims, Hindus and mankind. In this way, the rituals of the Rosa Sharif ended. The raag ended. All lifted hands for dua.
After visiting the Dargah, Sain Zubairdin went to Qasr Qalandar. And everyone is permitted to return to their lodges. Every devotee all attandees went to their respective lodge. Now some attendees will leave after eating bhandara(food served in mass). Some will stay till evening and join the ceremonies with which Sahib Karim depart from Qasre Qalandar to haveli(their residence), while others will stay overnight and leave tomorrow in the morning. Now after lunch it was time to prepare for evening ceremony. Good number of attendees are present at Qasre Qalandar. In evening Faqeer Izhar Ali Dakhan along with his team came to Qasre Qalandar. Sahib Kareem came out from their chambers and presided at the designated place in lounge of Qasre Qalandar. They wore the Taj Mubarak, wrapped the geru cloak , held the asa mubarak in hand and proceeded towards haveli(residence). Faqeer Izhar and team started singing kalaams and Khokar faqeer was ringing periodically the cymbol in hand. We reached the big gate of haveli, Sahib Kareem stopped and sat in the room next to big gate(this room is called Kabtullah). They hand over the Taj Mubarak, the cloak and Asa Mubarak to me and I handed it to Iftikar my son. Sahib Karim cover their head with sindhi topi. This is tradition Faqeer Dakhan team sings kalaams , they sing 4-5 kalaams. Sahib Karim after 15 minutes, proceed towards haveli. We returned to Qasre Qalandar and await for next day to bid farewell to Sahib Karim take blessings and return back home.
Source: Duago (requesting dua) – Ansar Lagari, Digri Sindh, Pakistan
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