HE annual Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar got under way in the small Sindh town of Sehwan on Monday with traditional colour and zeal. What made this year`s ceremony all the more poignant was that three months ago, the iconic shrine of the saint was bombed in a savage attack which killed over 80 people. The militant Islamic State group claimed to be behind the atrocity. Keeping the tragedy in mind, the Sindh government made stringent security arrangements for the Urs, as devotees thronged to the golden-domed mausoleum to pay homage to the saint. Fortunately, no untoward incident has been reported so far, although tragedy came in the form of the death of a few devotees due to heatstroke. The police appeared to be on their toes, as a few suspects who were trying to force their way into the shrine without proper body search were apprehended. Security forces should be commended for remaining alert.

In their war on society, extremist militants have struck Sufi shrines with particular ferocity. Along with Sehwan, terrorists have targeted otherrevered dargahsin Pakistan,including Abdullah Shah Ghazi in Karachi, Data Darbar in Lahore, and Bari Imam in Islamabad. In fact, ever since the suicide bombing at Bari Imam in 2005, the saint`s annual Urs has not been held officially. While devotees participate in the rituals on an individual level, the passion the Urs was once known for is today subdued. In the greater war against militancy, it is essential that the state provides shrines and places of worship with ample security while ensuring that devotees face minimum hassle and can attend major events in large numbers. Such dargahs and annual celebrations send a message of brotherhood, acceptance and tolerance words that are anathema to the militant hordes.

That is why both state and society must play their due role in keeping alive such rich faith traditions.