Data Darbar
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Pakistani English Template:Infobox religious building Data Darbar (Template:Langx) is an Islamic shrine located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.<ref name="linus" /> It is the largest Sufi shrine in South Asia. It was built to house the remains of al-Hujwiri, commonly known as Data Ganj Baksh or more colloquially as Data Sahab, a Sufi saint from Ghazni in present-day Afghanistan, who is believed to have lived on the site in the 11th century CE.
The site is considered to be the most sacred place in Lahore,<ref name=a>Template:Cite book</ref> and attracts up to one million visitors to its annual urs festival.<ref name="linus"/>
LocationEdit
Data Darbar is located in the center of Old City Lahore. Surrounding it are Lower Mall Road, Bhati Gate, Gawalmandi & Karbala Gamay Shah.
HistoryEdit
The shrine was originally established as a simple grave next to the mosque which Ali Hujwiri had built on the outskirts of Lahore in the 11th century.<ref name="linus">Template:Cite book</ref> By the 13th century, the belief that the spiritual powers of great Sufi saints were attached to their burial sites was widespread in the Muslim world,<ref name=c>Template:Cite book</ref> and so a larger shrine was built to commemorate the burial site of Hujwiri during the Mughal period.<ref name="linus"/> The shrine complex was expanded in the 19th century, and Hujwiri's mosque rebuilt.<ref name="linus"/> However, some historians claim that the present shrine doesn't house the grave of Ali Hujwiri. This place was a site where he used to come for worship. His actual grave is hidden in Shahi Qilla, Lahore.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web
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The shrine came under Pakistani government control as part of the Auquf Ordinance of 1960, with the official aim of preventing shrine caretakers throughout the country from financially exploiting devotees.<ref name="linus" /> The shrine was greatly expanded in the 1980s under the rule of military leader Zia ul-Haq,<ref name="linus" /> during which time the shrine became the largest in South Asia.<ref name="linus" /> Offices for NGOs, a library, madrasa, police station, carpark, and offices were all added under his regime.<ref name="linus" /> Designated spaces for musical performances, and new free kitchen were also added during that time.<ref name="linus" /> New markets have emerged around the site since its massive expansion.<ref name="linus" />
Since 1965, the mehfil-e-sama, a 2-day qawwali music festival, had been held adjacent to the shrine, which in 1992 shifted to a nearby school.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Terror attacksEdit
On [[July 2010 Lahore bombings|Template:Nowrap 2010, two suicide bombers attacked the shrine.]] At least 50 people were killed, and 200 others were hurt in the blasts.<ref name="CNN20100702">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="bbc20100701">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="nyt20100701">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 8 May 2019, another blast at the same site killed twelve people included police officials Saddam Hussain, Head Constable Shahid Nazir, Head Constable Muhammad Sohail, Head Constable Gulzar Ahmad, Constable Muhammad Saleem, and security guard Rafaqat Ali near the entrance gate for female visitors.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
ArchitectureEdit
The shrine of Hujwiri is housed in a Mughal era tomb crafted of carved white marble. The tomb is surrounded by a massive marble courtyard, while a new educational institution at the shrine complex utilizes modernist architecture.<ref name=b/>
SignificanceEdit
The site is considered to be the most sacred place in Lahore.<ref name="a" /> The shrine has emerged a major economic, political, and social centre in Lahore,<ref name="linus" /> and is one of the only places in Lahore where the extremely rich and extremely poor share space together.<ref name="linus" />
It is widely believed among devotees that the saint interred at the shrine is the supreme authority over all Sufi saints in the Indian subcontinent, and that no new Sufi saint could immigrate to the subcontinent without obtaining permission from the spirit of Hujwiri.<ref name="b">Template:Cite book</ref>
Following the establishment of a shrine dedicated to Hujwiri, his tomb was visited by Muslims and non-Muslims in search of his blessings. Illustrious figures such as Baba Farid, Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya, Dara Shikoh, and Allama Iqbal all paid obeisance to the shrine, and pledged allegiance to Hujwiri.<ref name="b" /> Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was a frequent visitor to the shrine.Template:Fact
Hujwiri's teachings were critical of practices associated with South Asian Islam, such as the use of drugs, and dancing.<ref name="linus" /> He also taught that Sufi saints were themselves still obliged to the demands of Islam, and so is revered by reformist Muslims who are critical of Sufi practice, as well as traditionalist Muslims who revere Sufi shrines.<ref name="linus" />
Qawwali performances are regularly held at the shrine. On special occasions, the shrine is decorated with lights, dinner is prepared for thousands of visitors, who also partake in dance while musicians play Sufi music for hours. At the boundary of the shrine, Muslim faithfuls recite the Qur'an, and pay tributes to the Prophet Muhammad. Template:Wide image
Social servicesEdit
The shrine provides a wide array of social services which have made it a popular hub for impoverished residents.<ref name="linus" /> In a custom that is 1,000 years old,<ref name="a" /> up to 50,000 visitors per day are offered free food at the shrine.<ref name="a" /> Patrons facing personal difficulties frequently donate money or labour to the shrine's free-kitchen fund,<ref name="a" /> in line with Islam's emphasis on feeding the poor.<ref name="a" /> The shrine also provides for students' education in nearby schools, and helps fund local hospitals as part of its social mission.<ref name="a" />
AccessEdit
The shrine remains open at all hours, and welcomes visitors who freely enter the complex. The shrine is visited by approximately 30,000 to 60,000 visitors on a daily basis,<ref name="linus" /> though the number can double on religious holidays, and on Thursdays<ref name="linus" /> - the traditional night for visiting shrines. Approximately 1,000,000 devotees visit the shrine during its annual urs festival.<ref name="linus" />
The shrine is served by the Bhatti Chowk station of the Lahore Metrobus.
AdministrationEdit
The shrine is managed as part of an Auqaf foundation as part of the Auqaf Ordinance of 1960.<ref name="linus"/> The shrine is managed by approximately 200 full-time workers,<ref name="linus"/> excluding security services.<ref name="linus"/> The shrine produces the most revenue for the Auqaf board out of all the some 400 shrines under its control in Punjab province,<ref name="linus"/> and contributes approximately 33% of the board's revenue.<ref name="linus"/> The shrine collects 4 times more income than is spent on the shrine's upkeep.<ref name="linus"/> Considered to be the centre of all shrines in Punjab, religious practices and sermons are subject to more government regulation than at other shrines in Pakistan.<ref name="linus"/>
GalleryEdit
- Beautiful Scene of Data Darbar Lahore.jpg
The shrine surrounds the green-domed tomb
- Ali Hajveri Tomb.jpg
Ali Hajveri Tomb at night
- Data Darbar 2.jpg
Data Darbar Mosque
- Data darbar complex 13.jpg
The shine's interior is decorated with mirror work and flowers
- Data durbar (2).JPG
The cenotaph is surrounded by carved marble screens
- Data Darbar Mosque Insiade.JPG
View of the new mosque's interior
- Data durbar (5).JPG
Supplicants at the innermost sanctum of the shrine
- Data darbar complex, lahore, pakistan (3).jpg
Entrance to the shrine's inner sanctum
- Data Darbar Complex Evening.JPG
An evening view of the shrine and its adjacent mosque
- Compound of the Data Darbar Complex, Lahore - panoramio.jpg
The shrine is fronted by a large courtyard for devotees to gather every Thursday night, as well as on other festival nights.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Data Darbar Web Site
- Fateh Qaloob A Research Book About Data Darbar and Data Ganj Bakhsh
- Information about the complex
- Photos of the Data Darbar complex
- Details about the construction
Template:Walled City of Lahore Template:Cultural heritage sites in Punjab, Pakistan Template:Mosques in Pakistan