The Hazrat Mohammed Hamza Shah Sunni Jamatul Muslameen is commemorating the 248th Urus (death anniversary) of the Sufi saint Hazrat Mohammad Hamza Shah on Saturday, June 29. Hazrat is one of the most revered saints by people cutting across religious lines in Goa, especially Bardez. The shrine of the Sufi saint is situated atop the Betim plateau, in Reis Magos village, where it is believed he spent the final years of his worldly journey.
The death of a Sufi saint is considered to be ‘visaal’ or the union with the beloved. Hence, the death anniversary is celebrated with great pomp and gaiety. Though the exact date of the passing away of Hazrat Mohammad Hamza Shah is unknown, traditionally the Urus is celebrated annually 10 days after the Eid-ul-Adha or Bakri Eid on the 20th of Dhul Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Nevertheless, a plaque found near the tomb of Hazrat Mohammad Hamza Shah reads 1197 in Arabic numerals, referring to the year of burial as per the Islamic Hijri calendar, which is also a lunar calendar. This year is the 1445 Hijri year and marks the 248th year of the visaal of Hazrat Mohammad Hamza Shah.
There is very little known about the Sufi saints whose shrines are located in Goa and Hazrat Mohammad Hamza Shah is one among them but the devotion of the people towards the saint has not diminished. People from across religious beliefs come to the Shrine in the hope of being able to connect to the Almighty and seek blessings and good fortune. At the beginning of this century, the complex was renovated and beautified and has received more tourists than the other shrines in the State.
In the good old days, people from Sanquelim, Bicholim and Mapusa who revered the Hazrat would come together and celebrate the Urus. It is only in the recent past, in the later half of the last century that a Sunni Jamatul Muslameen took it upon itself to celebrate the Urus. Those who revere Hazrat, support and join in celebrating the Urus every year.
The celebrations begin on the 19th of Zil Hijjah. Immediately after the Fajr (morning) prayers, Maulana (Islamic scholars) from various mosques come together for Quran Khani (recital of the Holy Quran). Thereafter, in the evening after Isha (night prayers) gyarvih sharif is held followed by dinner for those who have gathered. As per the lunar calendar, the date changes after sunset.
The first stage of the Urus is the sandal sharif and it begins with a gusl to the tomb of Hazrat. Gusl is full ablution and in normal circumstances bathing with water. However, Gusl for a Shrine is cleaning up the tomb, applying rose water along with kewda and ittar (perfumes), apply a layer of liquid clay or whitewash, over the tomb and then changing the innermost chaddar of the tomb. Normally, the visitors and faithful who come to the Shrine of Hazrat will not be able to see the tomb. There is a box cover that has been made above the original tomb so that the faithful can revere and place their chaddars, flowers, etc over the tomb. The Gusl is performed only once a year ahead of the Sandal procession and the box cover is opened for the purpose.
On the day of Sandal, that is the 20th Zil Hijjah, a procession starting from the Betim ferry point at 3 pm goes through the lanes of the village carrying the Sandal paste and the chaddars being offered by various organisations and individuals. Prominent amongst them are the chaddar of the Managing Committee, a chaddar from the person from Mapusa who had been revering and organising the Urus earlier and the local youth come together and offer a chaddar on their behalf. The Sandal paste is smeared on the chaddars which are later placed on the Shrine. The Sandal procession takes about 4 hours to reach from Betim ferry point to the Dargah complex.
The Sandal evening becomes the most important occasion where people from across the State and outside Goa come with their chaddars and place them on the Shrine. Pray for the faithful and for the goodness in the Hereafter of the saint and the followers. The managing committee organises various activities on the Sandal evening. Elocution competition for children, speeches of religious leaders and a fair for the public to come and enjoy the evening.
The committee has decided to celebrate the Urus on a Saturday following the Sandal procession and celebration, irrespective of the day of the week when the Sandal is held. This year, the Sandal procession was held on Thursday, June 27 and the Urus will be celebrated today, on June 29. The main speaker for the evening programme will be Hazrat Allama Muhammad Shakir Ali Noori, the president of the Sunni Dawati Islami, Mumbai.
Apart from the religious celebrations, no festivity is complete without giving the people to spend time together and adjacent to the dargah complex a fair is organised where the faithful shop, eat, drink and spend some quality time with their loved ones. The Urus celebration is also a time when relatives travel distances and unite for an evening of religious fervor.
(Shaikh Bashir is the president of the Association of All Goa Muslim Jamats, and Sunni Jamatul Muslameen, Alto-Betim)