Ganderbal, Jan 26: The Urs of Hazrat Qamar-U-Din Baihaqi (RA) which remained partly suspended for about 20 years due to social strife in the Valley will resume on January 26. A great source of attraction for thousands of the people, the event creates a lot of business activities during the Urs days.
 The Urs as per the tradition lasts for a week. During this time the locals and traders establish their tea stalls, fast foods kiosks, photography shops. Besides the roadside vendors sold kids’ wears, toys, traditional snacks, etc.
 The boat rowers also make some good sales during the Urs days. “During the Urs days I would run a tea stall here make some good money. But those were those days. Now the event does not bring much business” Manzoor Ahmed, a local said.
  “Around one lakh people used to come here during the festival days,” said Ghullam Nabi, a local adding that entire Ganderbal wore a festive look during those days.
 However, many locals are enthusiastic and hopeful with the festival this year. “We are hopeful that a lot of people will visit this place and we will do some good business,” said a local, who is planning to install a tea stall during the festival days.
 Chairman Majlis-e-Ziyarat Qamar-u-Din, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool told Greater Kashmir that they had raised several charitable institutes in the name of the Qamar Sahib like Qamaria Higher Secondary School Ganderbal providing education to around one thousand students with free education and scholarships to the poor and needy students.
 The local market has been named as Qamaria Market and the adjacent area is known as Qamaria chowk Ganderbal, besides “we have a Qamaria library, Qamaria Baitul maal.”
 Meanwhile the organizers of the Urs have appealed the district administration to ensure availability of drinking water and power supply during the festival days.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST