Kazipet Dargah Urs from today

Kazipet: Green symbolises life and sustainability, but the historic Kazipet Dargah of Sufi saint Hazrat Syed Shah Afzal Biabani coloured in green has more essence than that, reflecting oneness and universality of the mankind.

A peek into the history of this Dargah that immortalised Hazrat Syed Shah Afzal Biabani reveals how the annual Urs celebrated here has become so popular.

Born to Syed Shah Ghulam Mohiuddin Biabani and Qasim Bibi Saheba couple in 1795, Afzal Biabani regarded as something extraordinary right from his childhood. Preaching morals like simplicity and social equality, he became a symbol of social justice and communal harmony.

His affinity to people irrespective of their caste, creed, region and religion made him popular among masses. And it continues even today with people cutting across social barriers attend the Urs. Many newly-wed couples of Hindu families visit the Dargah for blessings soon after their marriage.

It’s also believed that the Sufi saint worshipped in a cave at Battupalli hills near Kazipet and at a forest location in Nizamabad district. Although he enjoyed the position of Qazi of Warangal, he preferred to live in a hut like any other poor man, always hobnobbing with Hindus.

Afzal Biabani’s disciples and devotees built a Dargah and started Urs on Safar 26, 1856, the day he left his physical form. It may be mentioned here that Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar.

Speaking to The Hans India, Khusroo Pasha, the seventh descendent of Afzal Biabani and the head of the Dargah said: “With the timely release of funds, arrangements are in place for the fete. We have made elaborate arrangements separately for men and women visiting the Dargah.”

However, the 165th annual festivity is set to get underway with the Ghusl-e-Shareef on Saturday, the Sandal-Shareef on Sunday (November 27), followed by Urs-Chader-e-Gul and Mehfil-e-Samaa (qawwali) on Monday are the important days of the festival.

The Kazipet Dargah which is coloured in green like the Dargahs at Baghdad and Madina, is considered as the highest order of honour.
Meanwhile, the glistening Dargah is being spruced up further with the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) and Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) funds Rs 1.78 crore and Rs 45 lakh respectively.

With lakhs of people across from the country and abroad are expected to come, the Dargah authority is trying to improve the aesthetics of the shrine besides bettering the facilities. A prayer hall that accommodates 1,000 people, a 500-capacity dining hall and granite flooring on the premises of the Dargah are among other facilities installed for the comfort of pilgrims.

Shahnawaz Baig, a senior journalist and an ardent follower of Sufi Afzal Biabani, appealed to pilgrims to come with adequate change in view of demonetisation of high valued notes. Referring to the All-Parties’ Bharat Bandh call on November 28, he urged the leaders not to cause any convenience to the pilgrims turning to Kazipet.