Nagpur: The city is gearing up for the 104th Urs of Hazrat Baba Tajuddin Auliya, with lakhs of devotees from India, and around the world, expected to converge at the historic shrine from July 8 to July 19. Organised by the Hazrat Baba Tajuddin Trust, the 12-day annual Urs will feature religious gatherings, international qawwali performances, spiritual discourses and traditional ceremonies.Hazrat Baba Tajuddin Auliya, the 20th-century mystic, is regarded as one of the most important Sufi saints of South Asia. The Urs will commence on July 8 with Parcham Kushai (flag hoisting) at 9am, followed by an International Sufi Conference in the evening. The celebrations will continue with daily Milad Sharif, speeches and qawwali performances. The shrine is already witnessing preparations as devotees from different parts of the country are arriving in Nagpur. Ata Mohammad Nizam Baba, from Zampani district in Andhra Pradesh, said, “Like every year, we are bringing two containers of groceries to prepare and serve meals for devotees visiting the shrine. Around 1,000 more devotees from Andhra Pradesh, along with my brother-in-law from the United States, will also join the Urs,” he said. Trust chairman Pyare Khan said elaborate arrangements have been made to accommodate nearly 25 lakh devotees during the 12-day Urs. “Several langars will operate simultaneously to provide free meals to devotees visiting the shrine to seek Baba Tajuddin Auliya’s blessings. We have strengthened security and internal communication arrangements,” he said. Khan said the Trust is introducing a dedicated ‘One Call Connection for Cops’ mobile application and a central control room, during the Urs. “Due to the massive gathering around the shrine, mobile networks often become congested, making communication difficult for police and organisers. The new system will help maintain uninterrupted coordination and improve crowd management,” he added.The Urs is one of central India’s largest spiritual gatherings which attracts devotees of all faiths who participate in prayers, langars and Sufi devotional events in remembrance of the revered saint.
