983rd ghusal ceremony of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh’s (RA) shrine held, amid tight security

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Jun, 2026) The 983rd annual 'ghusal mubarak' ceremony of the shrine of revered Sufi saint Hazrat Al-Shaikh Al-Syed Ali Bin Usman Al-Hajveri (RA), widely known as Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh, was observed with great religious devotion and reverence, here on Thursday.

The ceremony began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by soul-stirring Naat recitations by renowned Naat khawans. The traditional ghusal of the shrine was performed with rosewater, accompanied by Chadar Poshi and the laying of floral wreaths. Special prayers were offered for the peace, prosperity, and stability of Pakistan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar attended the ceremony along with provincial ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique, Bilal Yaseen and Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, as well as Special Assistant Ali Dar.

Senior government officials, including Punjab Home Secretary Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, Secretary Auqaf Dr. Ehsan Bhutta, Secretary Excise Masood Mukhtar, and Senior Member board of Revenue (SMBR) Nabeel Javed, also participated in the ceremony.

A large number of devotees attended the annual ritual, while authorities ensured exemplary security and facilitation arrangements for visitors.

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According to the Punjab Home Department spokesperson, walk-through gates were installed at all entry points of the shrine, while continuous monitoring was maintained through an extensive security system.

The spokesperson said that the inner and outer premises of the shrine were being monitored round-the-clock through CCTV cameras. Female police personnel were also deployed to facilitate and provide security to women devotees.

Parking arrangements were made at a secure distance from the shrine to ensure smooth movement and effective crowd management.

The spokesperson added that all entry and exit routes of Lahore were under effective 24-hour surveillance as part of the security plan.

Fire brigade teams, Bomb Disposal Squad personnel, Rescue 1122 ambulances, and medical staff remained on duty throughout the event to respond promptly to any emergency situation.

Teams of the Punjab Food Authority were also deployed at the distribution points of 'langar' and sabeel to ensure food quality and hygiene standards for devotees.

The spokesperson said that all necessary measures had been taken to ensure the peaceful and secure conduct of the annual Ghusl-e-Mazar ceremony.