Urs of great Sufi saint and poet Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai begins today at Bhit Shah town of district Matiari amid strict security measures.

The urs begins every year on 14th Safar (2nd month of the Hijra calendar) and thousands pay home to the poet across the province, but the traditional activities of the three-day event will remain limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor of Sindh, Imran Ismail’s participation in the opening ceremony of the urs has also been suspended.

SSP Matiari Asif Bughio said, “Simple events will be held [for the urs] in compliance with the COVID-19 SOPs. Zaireens can recite fateha at the shrine but wearing masks will be mandatory,” he said.

Earlier, the Sindh government had announced a holiday on October 2 due to Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s urs.