The Sindh government has announced a public holiday on August 9 across the province to celebrate the 282nd Urs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, a beloved Sufi saint and poet.

According to Sindh’s Secretary for Culture, Muhammad Khan, the three-day Urs celebrations will begin on Saturday. All preparations have been completed.

The Minister for Culture has invited the Governor of Sindh to officially open the event.

Authorities have also placed all relevant departments on high alert to make sure the event goes smoothly.

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To ensure safety during the celebrations, a ban on displaying weapons in Hyderabad has been put in place. An official notification has already been issued.

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai is known as the greatest Sufi poet in Sindhi literature and is considered the national poet of Sindh.

His famous work, Shah Jo Risalo, is compared to Rumi’s Mathnawi for its spiritual and poetic value. His poetry spreads messages of love, peace, and spiritual wisdom.

The Urs is held every year on 14 Safar, the second month of the Islamic calendar. Thousands of devotees attend the three-day event at his shrine in Bhit Shah, which includes prayers, music, poetry readings, and cultural programs. A 16-foot statue of Bhittai was installed there in 2017 to honor his legacy.