Nagpur: The 102nd annual Urs of Sufi Saint Baba Tajuddin Auilya reached its crescendo on Friday with the Darbari Shahi Sandal, marking the saint’s Chhabisi in Nagpur. The grand procession commemorated the mystic’s return from Pagalkhana, from where he was taken in a buggy by Maratha ruler Raghuji on a 10-km run.
Despite the rain, lakhs of devotees, including children, elderly, women, and youngsters, thronged the sandal. According to Pyare Khan, Chairman of the Hazrat Baba Tajuddin Trust (HBT), over two lakh devotees participated in the day-long procession, while another two lakh were present at the dargah.
The grand sandal kicked off from another saint Mohammad Hussain’s Dargah close to Tajbagh. It merged with the Darbari Shahi Sandal at 10 am before going past several important points touched by Baba Tajuddin during the procession taken out by him.
The procession was a vibrant display of devotion, featuring several bands, street performers, buggies, horses, and qawwals singing and expressing their love for Baba Tajuddin, regarded as one of the most important mystics of South Asia.
A resident of Gandhibagh, explained that the Shahi Sandal was first taken out by Baba Tajuddin during his lifetime. “It’s a tradition where band players, musicians, singers, buggies, and hundreds of horses come together to honour Baba, without charging any money,” he said.
Another resident emphasised that the Shahi Sandal conveys a message of universal brotherhood. “People from all faiths and backgrounds come together to celebrate the Sufi saint, seeking blessings, fulfilling long-cherished wishes, and finding solutions to their problems,” he said.
A resident of Jafar Nagar, shared that langars are organised in other parts of the city to celebrate the Urs. “We have been hosting langars at Awasthi Square for decades, following the tradition of our forefathers, who belonged to the Silsila of Auilya-e-Chistiya Qadriya,” he said.
