Urs

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Urs (from Arabic: عرس ‘Urs) or Urus (literal meaning wedding),^[1] is the death anniversary of a Sufi saint, usually held at the saint's dargah (shrine or tomb). In most Sufi orders such as Naqshbandiyyah, Suhrawardiyya, Chishtiyya, Qadiriyya, etc. the concept of Urs exists and is celebrated with enthusiasm. The devotees refer to their saints as lovers of God, the beloved.^[1]

Urs rituals are generally performed by the custodians of the shrine or the existing Shaikh of the silsila. The celebration of Urs ranges from Hamd to Naat and in many cases includes the singing of religious music such as qawwali. The celebration also features food samples, bazaar, and various kinds of shops.

The Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Dargah Sharif in Ajmer attracts more than 400,000 devotees each year and is regarded as one of the most famous urs festivals around the world.^[2]