Terrorist attack in Pak: Know why 'Jhulelal's Dargah' was revered by many

Islamic State (IS) suicide bomber struck a crowded and historic Sufi Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine on Thursday, killing almost 100 people including women and children. The incident took place during Dhamal (Sufi ritual) when hundreds of devotees were present inside the premises of mausoleum of the saint.

A large number of devotees, from across the country, visits the shrine on Thursday. This is the shrine where the Sufi Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was buried.

Sufi Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is revered across South Asia, including India and Pakistan. He was a traveller, profound scholar of religions and was fluent in Pashto, Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Sindhi and Sanskrit. He visited almost all the Muslim world and settled in Sehwan where he was eventually buried.

Also Read: Pakistan: At least 100 dead, scores injured in suicide attack at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine, IS claims responsibility

After the death of Sufi Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Hindus within Sindh started identifying Lal Shahbaz Qalandar or as Jhulelal.

This Sufi pilgrimage center, Sufi Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine was built in 1356 and is also known as 'Sehwan da Sakhi Shahbaz Qalandar' which has also been mentioned in the popular qawwali Dama Dam Mastt Qalandar which has been penned by Amir Khusro and after a period of time both Hindu and Muslim in Sindh started to referrer him as Jhulelal.

The shrine is decorated with Sindhi 'kashi-tiles', mirror-work and with a gold-plated door donated by the Shah of Iran.

The inner sanctum of the shrine is about 100 square yards with a silver-canopied grave in the middle, also there is a set copies of Quran for devotees to read.

A brutal terrorist attack on a such a shrine leaves an impact beyond loss of life, it is a loss of cultural heritage and shared the history of Pakistan, as well as India.