fort of sehwan

Acient Fort of Sehwan

Sehwan Sharif is situated some 100 kilometers from Hyderabad Sindh, Pakistan. It is famous for the shrine of Hazarat Lal Shahbaz Qalander, a distinguished sofi saint of Muslims. Sehwan is held in high esteem by local Muslims and Hindus alike.Sehwan is one of the most ancient towns of Indus valley. Its history dates back to the second ancient belt of this valley after the ancient culture of Moen jo Daro. At the time of Maha Bharat when Brahmans were settled in this valley, they founded many towns on the bank of Indus. Sehwan occupies a first place in those old ancient towns. It is not known what its original name was in those days but at the time of the invasion of Alexander the Great, this town occupied a cardinal place and Alexander encamped here on his return march homeward. In memory of his victory he built a fort, the ruins of which are still in existence in the north of the present town.

At the time of invasion of Alexander the Great, Sehwan was called "SEVESTAN" and ruled over by Raja Mati. During the decay of Empire of Raja Mati, it was ravaged by Raja Chhach. This part of country thus ruled by Raja Chhach and his followers until Raja Dahar who was defeated at he battle of Debal in 711 A.D .by Mohammed Bin Qasim. While Sindh was subject to the Emperors at Delhi, Sehwan or Sevastan, as it was then called appears to have been generally the seat of Governor. When the Samas came in to the power, one of the first things which they did was to seize Sehwan, and when Shah Beg Arghun took the kingdom from the last of Samas he had to fight, a second battle for possession of the town. Under his son Miraz Shah Hussain the fugitive Emperor Humayun made a determined when Sindh again lost its independence and Daudpotas,

Kalhoras and Panhawar were fighting of the right bank of the Indus. Sehwan declined. The victorious Kalhoras made their capital at Khudaabad thirty-two kilometers to the north, but this capital in its turn, was superseded by Hyderabad.

At the time of British conquest, this part of the country was ruled by the Talpurs (Mirs). After the battle of Miani, Sir Charles Napier took possession of the Sindh and made Karachi as his headquarter.

Administrative expediency demanded the reconstitution of the boundaries of the district in 1901 when Larkana district was created and some talukas, which were earlier part of Shikarpur district, were linked with it. The people of this part, with the passage of time and change in circumstances, could not adjust themselves of the political and administrative environment of Larkana district and they demanded their severance from it. This resulted into creation of Dadu district in 1931with its headquarters at Dadu.

Ethnicity and Tribes

The majority of the population is Muslim. They can be divided into two major groups Samats and Baloch. The Samat includes Panhwar, Solangi, Qureshi, Sheikh, Siddiqui, Qazi and others.

The Baloch includes Jamali, Khosa, Lund, Gabol and others. Hindu population is split up into two groups viz. Sanatis and Lohanas. This population is scanty now.

Hazrat Sikandar Bodla Bahar ( R.A )

Hazrat Bodla bahar sikander (R.A) was a steadfast disciple of Lal Shahbaz and legend has it that he used to sweep the floor with his beard singing ‘Mera Lal Ayega (my saint will come)’ years before Qalandar actually came to Sehwan.
Sufi Dance (Dhamal)
sufis in front of Shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar ( R.A )'s Khalifa Hazrat Sikandar Bodla Bahar ( R.A ) preparing for dhamal (special sufi dance) at the time of (Maghrib)sunset.


SOME PICTURE OF SHRINE.

Sir K.A. Jackson Views about sehwan 1838

SEHWAN


A town of unimpeachable antiquity, Sehwan, some eighty miles north-west of Hyderabad, lay on the opposite bank of the Indus. Most historians have accepted the link between Sehwan and the Greek settlement of Siwistan. It was significant enough during the 8th century to be conquered by Muhammad bin Qasim in 711 A.D., and two centuries later by Mahmud of Ghazni. An abortive attempt was made by the Mughal emperor Humayun to capture it on his way to Umarkot but it finally fell to his son Akbar. Apart from the remnants of the ruins scattered about its environs, the most famous monument in Sehwan remains the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

RUINS AT SEHWAN, c. 1838
Lithograph published in Sir K.A. Jackson Views of
Affghaunistan (London, 1841), plate 12.


The accompanying notes provided by Jackson read: 'On the north side of the town is the ruined castle or fortress of Sehwaun, by which it is completely commanded; this is perhaps the most extraordinary building on the Indus, and no doubt constructed before the invasion by Alexander the Macedonian. It consists of a natural mound sixty feet high, encased in many parts with burnt brick. In fact, the fortress and mount are so amalgamated, that it is difficult now to distinguish what portions of it are the work of art. The gate is opposite to the side of the town, and has evidently been an arched one. The Emperor Humaioon in A.D.1541, attempted to take it, and was unsuccessful, it was invested by his son Acbar for seven months, who at length succeeded in its capture.
Captain Del Hoste of the Bombay Army, writing in 1839, provided this additional description: 'It is an artificial mound 80 or 90 paces high; on the top is a space of 1500 by 800 feet, surrounded by a broken wall. We examined the remains of several old towers of brick, and I took a hasty sketch of the gateway, which is remarkably lofty. The mound is evidently artificial, and the remains of several towers are visible. The brickwork seems to extend to the bottom of the mound, or, at any rate, to a considerable depth, as we could see down the the parts washed away by the rains. A well, filled up, was observed. We were told that coins and medals were frequently found in and near the place' (quoted in Hughes (1876), 724).












Ruins at Sehwan 1838
ENTRANCE TO SEHWAN, 1844
Lithograph by Charles Haghe based upon a sketch
by William Edwards,1844. Published in Sketches in
Scinde (London, 1846), Plate 7.

Edwards described the entrance and situation of Sehwan in the following words: 'The approach to Sehwan is through a grove of beautiful tamarind and palm trees. The city is built' on a rising ground on the banks of the river Arul, and is distant about two or three miles from the mighty and classic Indus. In the environs are many fine mosques and tombs, and within the city is a remarkably splendid musjid, built in honour of the celebrated Muslim saint, Lal Shah Baz. An object of great interest is the old castle of Sehwan, which, although now in ruins, is yet sufficiently perfect to attest its former strength.' About its most famous patron Edwards wrote:
'Lal Shah Baz was a saint of Khorassan, said to have been buriecFhere about 600 years since. His sanctity and miracles are in such repute that pilgrims flock from Afghanistan and India, and even the Princes of the country did him homage.'
Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a Persian by origin, died in 1272. His real name was Shaikh Usman Marwandi. An initial tomb for the saint built by Malik Iktiyaruddin in about 1356 was expanded by two rulers of the Tarkhan dynasty, Mirza Jani and his son Mirza Ghazi, and later in 1639 improved and embellished by Nawab Dindar Khan. The gateway and the balustrade of hammered silver around the tomb had been reputedly provided by Mir Karam Au Talpur. The Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qal~ndar is normally held on the 18th of Shaban each year.













Entrance to Sehwan, 1844

Some Miracles of Qalandar:

• One day king of the fort ordered his soldiers to bring him the man (Boodla Bahaar) who says “Ali Haq”. Once Boodla Bahaar was arrested he was presented to the king, he asked Boodla Bahaar stop saying “Ali Haq” Boodla Bahaar answered “Ali Haq” and I will not stop. King got angry and asked his soldiers to kill Boodla Bahaar and make mince of his meat and then distribute it and throw it away (according to some sayings the soldiers ate the meat).

(there is a saying that when Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar used to call Boodla Bahaar he replied “Aya Sarkar” (I am coming my Lord!)). When Boodla Bahaar didn’t return for a long time Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar inquired and found out what happened he said “Boodla Bahaar” and where ever the meat of Boodla Bahaar was it replied “Aya Sarkar” (Coming My Lord!) and the meat gathered and turned back into Boodla Bahaar. Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar sent him again to preach these people and the same thing happened again. Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar again performed the same miracle an

d after third time Qalandar said that these people of fort and their king will not listen and keep destroying lives and freedom of innocents, Hence after the third time he gave his “Mutahir” (A strong baseball bat type stick) to Boodla Bahaar and told him to turn it upside down while looking at the Fort and as Boodla Bahaar turned it all the fort was turned upside down (this is clear from the fort remains). Later on someone asked Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar why didn’t he do it himself, Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar replied I was holding on to the earth as if I haven’t stopped it the whole earth would have gone upside down.

• One day a man was wandering in the desert and he saw another man (Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar) praying in the desert and two sticks a short distance apart sticking into ground in front of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. That man was dreamt about becoming a king one day and he was in these thoughts while he passed in between the two sticks buried halfway into the ground in front of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

As soon as he passed he saw a big door from which he had entered into a city, where a big crowd was gathered. He was surprised and went on to see what was happening. Someone told him that their king died without leaving any successor and hence “Huma” (A bird, which was set to fly and on whose ever head it landed was made the King. That’s why sometimes a king was referred, in old times as, Zil-e-Huma which meant “Huma’s Shadow”) was being flown to choose a king. Huma made its flight and sat on this person’s head and he was made a King.

It is said he reigned for 7 years and one day he was visiting city when he came across the same door from which he entered all those years ago. He decided to check and left the door as soon as he was out of door he again walked back in between from those two sticks. Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was still sitting there and praying. (This miracle shows, according to my knowledge, two things first, Qalandar had control over Dimensions, and secondly Qalandar granted him what that person wished for.)

• As the Qalandar means “Free/Free of Boundaries” it is a common known fact that Qalandar could let himself free from the power of gravitational pull and hence used to fly and that’s another reason he was called Shahbaz “Falcon”.

Saint revered by people of all religions

Qalandar Lal Shahbaz, the great mystic of Sindh is revered by the people of all religions including Muslims, Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs and Christians

No Suif Saint has so greatly influenced the people of Sindh and other parts of Pakistan than Qalandar Lal Shahbaz. Imam of Shahbazia Qalandrya Order, he was not only a high ranking mystic but a philologist, poet and a scholar. Millions of people from all over the world flock to pay homeage to his shrine in Sehwan, Sindh, Pakistan every year.

Over half a million pilgrims from all over the world flock to Sehwan every year to celebrate the annual urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, which began on Monday. The saint is equally revered by all communities.

Mohammad Usman was born in 1143AD in Marand, a small town on the outskirts of Tabraiz in Iran, his father was Syed Ibrahim Kabeeruddin, a dervish. He was 13th in the lineage of Hazrat Imam Jaffar Sadique.

Lal Shahbaz had memorized the Holy Quran at the age of seven and after completion of his education he left home for Baghdad where he met Baba Ibrahim Karbalai and became his Mureed. Baba Ibrahim was the spiritual follower of Hazrat Jamal Mujjarad.

Lal Shahbaz attained Khilafat and received sacred gifts, including a stone, which was attributed to Hazrat Imam Zainul Abedin, from his Shaikh Baba Ibrahim. It is said to be the same stone that hangs on his tomb.

Following instructions from his shaikh, Lal Shahbaz left Baghdad for Sindh. Sindh's capital was Multan at that time and Prince Khan Shaheed was the governor. Like his father Ghayasuddin Bulban, Prince Khan Shaheed was a patron of dervishs and saints.

Khan Shaheed was so impressed by the saint that he begged him to stay in Multan. He even wished to construct a khanqah for him but Lal Shahbaz did not agree as he had decided to finally settle in Sehwan.

While travelling from Baghdad to Sindh, Lal Shahbaz graced various places for his 'chillakushi'. Among them the Panjgor valley of Makran where a place called Dasht-i-Shahbaz is famous. It said that many Baloch tribes became his followers there. Even Babar mentions Dasht-i-Shahbaz in his chronicles Babarnama.

In Multan, Lal Shahbaz met Hazrat Ghous Bahauddin Zakaria Multani of the Suhrwardia order, Baba Fareed Ganjshakar of Chishtia order, and Makhdoom Jahanian Surkh Bukhari.

The attachment was so cordial and spiritual that their friendship became legendary and they were known as Chahar Yar. According to some historians, the four friends visited various parts of Sindh and Punjab.

In Sindh, there are numerous places which are attributed to Lal Shahbaz's 'Chillakushi.' They include Shah Sadruddin's shrine in Sukkur, Manghopir in Karachi and Shah Gurio near Badin. These places show Lal Shahbaz's extensive travels throughout Sindh.

According to the British scholar and explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was not only a sufi of high rank but a scholar, philologist and expert in grammar and syntax.

In 1852, when Burton visited Sindh, two books, Mizan-i-Sarf and Sarf-i-Sagheer, were attributed to Lal Shahbaz. These two books were on the syllabus of madressahs. His Persian poetry is full of intoxication of the love of God.

I am Usman Marani, I am the friend of Khawaja Mansoor People may condemn me but I am dancing even at the gallows. Lal Shahbaz is considered imam of the Shahbazia Qalandria order, but followers of all sufi revere him equally.

From the memoirs of Ibn-i-Batuta to the biography of Hazrat Mian Mir written by Prince Dara Shikoh, there are numerous references to Lal Shahbaz, highlighting his influence and high stature in 'tassawauf'.

Almost all saints of Sindh including Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Makhdoom Bilawal, Makhdoom Jaffar Boobkai, Sachal Sarmast and Qadir Bux Bedal were devout followers of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

The saint died in 1252 AD in Sehwan. Lal Shahbaz's first shrine was constructed by Feroz Shah Taghlaq, then Mirza Jani Beg of the Tarkhan dynasty and Ghulam Shah Kalhoro made improvements and extensions in the shrine. Now the golden tomb of the newly-built shrine shines on the horizon of Sehwan and the blessings and spiritual light is making its way all over the country.

Hydariam, Qalandaram Mastam,
Banda-e-Murtaza Ali Hastam
Peshwa-i-Tamam Rindanum
Key Sag-i-Kooe Sher-i-Yazdanam

Lal Shahbaz Qalander

Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (1177 - 1274) (Sindhi: لال شھباز قلندر), a Persian sufi saint, philosopher, poet, and qalandar, was born as Syed Usman Shah Marwandi.^[1]
He belonged to the Suhrawardiyya order of sufis, and was close contemporary to Baha-ud-din Zakariya, Shaikh Fariduddin Ganjshakar, Syed Jalaluddin Bukhari Surkh-posh of Uchch, and Shah Shams Tabrizi. Some also add the name of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi (Mevlana Rumi).
He travelled around the Muslim world and had settled in Sehwan (Sindh, Pakistan) and was buried there.^[2] He preached religious tolerance among Muslims and Hindus. Thousands of pilgrims visit his shrine every year, especially at the occasion of his Urs.

Life

Shahbaz Qalandar (Shaikh Usman Marwandi) was born in Marwand^[3] to a dervish, Syed Ibrahim Kabiruddin^[4] whose ancestors migrated from Bagdad and settled down in Mashhad, a center of learning and civilization, before migrating again to Marwand.
His dedication to the knowledge of various religious disciplines enabled him to eventually become a profound scholar. During his lifetime, he witnessed the Ghaznavid and Ghurids rules in South Asia.^[5] He became fluent in many languages including Persian, Turkish, Arabic, Sindhi and Sanskrit. His mysticism attracted people from all religions. He was titled Lal (red) for his usual red attire, Shahbaz due to his noble and divine spirit, and ‘Qalandar’ for his sufism and saintly attitude. Hindus regarded him as the incarnation of Bhrithari. Qalandar Lal Shahbaz lived a celibate life and, did not marry.
Evidence shows that he was active in Sindh before 1196, when he met Pir Haji Ismail Panhwar of Pat; it is believed he entered Sehwan in 1251.
He established his Khanqah in Sehwan and started teaching in Fuqhai Islam Madarrsah; during this period he wrote his treatises Mizna-e-Sart, Kism-e-Doyum, Aqd and Zubdah.

In poetry and prose

A Qawwali by Abida Parveen and many other singers of sufi songs, 'Lal Meri Pat Rakhiyo ...' is in honour of Shahbaz Qalandar, as is the one sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan named Mast Qalandar.
This famous mystic often quoted the teachings of Maulana Jalal ad-Din Rumi. A book detailing his life is called "Solomon's Ring" by Gul Hasan.
Bu Ali Shah Qalandar's famous Persian verses showing his love and honour for Hazrat Ali are engraved on his shrine:

“

Haiderium Qalandram Mastam Banda e Murtaza Ali Hastam Peshwa e tamam Rindanam Ke Sag e Koo e Sher e Yazdanam!

”

Translation:
I am Haideri (relating to Haider, a second name for Ali ibn Abi Talib), Qalandar and Mast (intoxicated with inspiration)
I am a servant of Ali Murtaza
I am leader of all saints
Because I am a dog of the lane of "Allah's Lion" (referring to Ali Murtaza)

Legends and Stories

On his way from Baluchistan to Sindh, he also stayed in present day Karachi's Manghopir area for muraqba (meditation), and it is said that Manghopir's natural warm fountain is a miracle of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. That warm fountain started to flow from beneath the hill, on which Lal Shahbaz sat for muraqba (meditation). After passing hundreds of years, that warm fountain is still flowing continuously and is said to have miraculous healing power especially for asthma patients.
In Multan, Lal Shahbaz met Bahauddin Zachariah Multani of the Suhurwardiya order, Baba Farid Ganjshakar of Chishtiya order, and Makhdoom Jahanian Surkh Bukhari. The attachment was so cordial and spiritual that their friendship became legendary. They were known as Chahar Yar (Persian = four friends). According to some historians, the four friends visited various parts of Sindh and Punjab, in present day Pakistan.
Almost all the saints of Sindh including Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Makhdoom Bilawal, Sachal Sarmast and Qadir Bukhsh Bedal were devout followers of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
It is also believed that he turned into a falcon to pick up his friend Shaikh Farid Shakar Ganj from the gallows. The legend goes that the incumbent fakirs in Sehwan sent him a bowl of milk filled to the brim indicating that there was no room for anything more. But surprisingly, he returned the bowl with a beautiful flower floating on the top. This legend spread far and wide by the time of his death in 1274, after living a good span for 97 years.

Shrine

The shrine around his tomb, built in 1356, gives a dazzling look with its Sindhi kashi tiles, mirror work and one gold-plated door - donated by the late Shah of Iran, and installed by the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.^[3] The inner sanctum is about 100 yards square with the silver canopied grave in the middle. On one side of the marble floor is a row of about 12 inch high folding wooden stands on which are set copies of Quran for devotees to read. On the other side, beside a bundle of burning agarbattis (joss sticks), are rows of diyas (small oil lamps) lighted by devotees.

His annual Urs (death anniversary celebration) is held on the 18 Sha'aban - the eighth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Thousands of devotees flock to the tomb while every Thursday their number stands multiplied especially at the time of his ‘Urs’ being a carnival as well a religious festival and celebrated every year. Sehwan springs to life and becomes the focal point of more than half a million pilgrims from all over Pakistan. On each morning of the three day feast, the narrow lanes of Sewhan are packed to capacity as thousands and thousands of pilgrims, fakirs and devotees make their way to the shrine to commune with the saint, offer their tributes and make a wish. Most of the people present garlands and a green chadar (a cloth used to cover a tomb) with Qur’anic inscriptions in silver or gold threads. Humming of verses, singing and dancing in praise of the saint continues till late at night. A devotional dance known as ‘dhamal’, being a frenzied and ecstatic swirl of the head and body, is a special ritual that is performed at the rhythmic beat of the [dhol] (a big barrel-shaped drum), some of them being of giant size and placed in the courtyard of the shrine. Bells, gongs, cymbals and horns make a thunderous din, and the dervishes, clad in long robes, beads, bracelets and colored head-bands whirl faster and faster in a hypnotic trance, until with a final deafening scream they run wildly through the doors of the shrine to the courtyard beyond.

Urs

His annual Urs (death anniversary celebration) is held on the 18 Sha'aban - the eighth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Thousands of devotees flock to the tomb while every Thursday their number stands multiplied especially at the time of his ‘Urs’ being a carnival as well a religious festival and celebrated every year. Sehwan springs to life and becomes the focal point of more than half a million pilgrims from all over Pakistan. On each morning of the three day feast, the narrow lanes of Sewhan are packed to capacity as thousands and thousands of pilgrims, fakirs and devotees make their way to the shrine to commune with the saint, offer their tributes and make a wish. Most of the people present garlands and a green chadar (a cloth used to cover a tomb) with Qur’anic inscriptions in silver or gold threads. Humming of verses, singing and dancing in praise of the saint continues till late at night. A devotional dance known as ‘dhamal’, being a frenzied and ecstatic swirl of the head and body, is a special ritual that is performed at the rhythmic beat of the [dhol] (a big barrel-shaped drum), some of them being of giant size and placed in the courtyard of the shrine. Bells, gongs, cymbals and horns make a thunderous din, and the dervishes, clad in long robes, beads, bracelets and colored head-bands whirl faster and faster in a hypnotic trance, until with a final deafening scream they run wildly through the doors of the shrine to the courtyard beyond.

sehwan pictures

Sehwan Sharif

Sehwan (Urdu: سیہون) (aka: Sehwan Sharif) is located in Sindh province of Pakistan. Sehwan town is of unimpeachable antiquity, Sehwan, some eighty miles north-west of Hyderabad lay on the opposite bank of the Indus. It is possible that the name Sehwan originates from "Siwistan" or "Seevistan", the kingdom of Raja Dahir which even extended to Punjab under the name "Shivi".^[1] It was significant enough during the 8th century to be conquered by Muhammad bin Qasim in 711Mahmud of Ghazni. An abortive attempt was made by the Mughal emperor Humayun to capture it on his way to Umarkot but it finally fell to his son Akbar. Apart from the remnants of the ruins scattered about its environs, the most famous monument in Sehwan remains the shrine of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. CE, and two centuries later by

The city is known for its Muslim patron saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar who lived here in 13th century CE. The mausoleum of Hazrat Shahbaz Qalandar attracts hundred of thousands of faithful every year.

Taluka sehwan is located in Jamshoro District of Sindh Pakistan at the right bank of river indus. Sehwan sharif is famous in Pakistan and world level for sufiism due to the great saint Hazrat (Usman Marwandi) qalandar lal shahbaz. another famous place is the inverted city besides the Dargah of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalander, may be the Debal Bandar of Raja Dahar. The Manchhar lake the biggest lake of Asia is in a little distance from Sehwan Sharif.

Sehwan Sharif is the eternal resting place of Hazrat Syed Usman Marwandi (Sindhi) also known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. He was born in 538 A.H, (1143 AD) in Marwand Iran.

Reference book, Qalandar Nama Sindhi,

His ancestors migrated from Iraq and settled down in Mashud Iran, from where they again migrated to Marwand. During the Medieval period, Mashud and other cities of that region were renowned centers of learning and civilization. His father, Syed Ibrahim Kabiruddin was a virtuous and pious dervish, and his mother was a high-ranking princess.

Syed Ibrahim Kabiruddin never thought of getting married because of prayers. With reference of book ‘lub tarik sindh’ one night Holy soul of Lal Qalandar turns up in the dream of his father “Syed Ibrahim Kabiruddin” asking him to get married saying "Get married as I have to be born by you". The birth date, age and last days of your life are mentioned in (Qalandar Nama Sindhi). The Birth name of this angelic nature baby was Syed Shah Hussain, but according to Tazkara-e-Shahbaz the name USMAN was given to hsi father and grandfather as this name was given by Hazrat Imam Hussain to his father and grandfather in their dream.

In Accordance with Alshahbaz book at the time of birth his appearance was rosy which is why his father used to call him LAL red. He liked red color since childhood and always used to wear red attire, holding a red flag and even he had red eyes. All those things gave him the title of "Lal" which literally means "red". The name Shahbaz was given to him by his spiritual master Hazrat Baba Ibrahim. He was also called saif-ul-lisan because Allah used to fulfill his every word as a token of extreme devotion to Allah. He is also known by the names Qutub-Uddin and Shams-Uddin.

Even as a young boy, Usman Marwandi showed strong religious leanings and had learnt the Holy Quran by heart just at age of seven, and at twenty embraced the Qalandar order of Sufism. The Qalandari and Qadri orders are alike spiritually according to ILM Ali Qalandar. Qalandar is a type of dervish who is generally dressed in beggars’ clothes, likes poverty and austerity and has no permanent dwelling.

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar wandered throughout Middle East and came to Sind from Baghdad via Dasht-i-Makran.Valley of panjghoor (Baluchistan) near Rakshanh stream where he did his spiritual exercise, this place is remembered by his name as DASHT-E-SHAHBAZ.

In 1263, he arrived in Lahore and then visited the shrine of Data Gunj Baksh and stayed there for forty days, and visited the shrines of Hazrat sheikh Hussain Zanjani, Hazrat Syed Ishaq Zanjani and Syed Yaqoob Zanjani. Then he proceededt to Sialkot and visit Hazrat Imam Ali La Haq. Then hejourneyed to Multan and meet Hazrat Ghous Bahauddin Zikria, and his great son Sheikh sadr-uddin Arif, which at that time was at the height of glory and splendor.

According to famous book “Kashf-ul-lugat” Qalandar means "who is gone astray in the love of GOD".

As Iqbal put it "Thousand of sorrows but heart is the language of GOD. It has always been the way of Qalandari"

The people of Multan besought him to stay but he continued his journey southward and eventually settled down in Sehwan, then a famous center of learning and popular place of worship for Hindus, in the southern part of Sindh, where he lived in the trunk of a tree on the outskirts of the town. He stayed at Sehwan for six years and during this period he disseminated the light of Islam, providing guidance to thousands of people.

As Qalandar put it "Nameless and tongue less still I am the mystic of GOD. Nameless and mark less but still I’m the devote of GOD"

Sehwan is probably the town with the oldest continuous existence in Sind and in those days was the capital of a Buddhist ruler who was brother of Chandragupta II, the third of the Guptan dynasty in the 4th century AD. From the time of Arab invasion in 712, Sehwan was very important in the history of Sind since it commanded the route from the Upper to the Lower Indus, through which all invaders from either north or south had to pass. The possession of the fort was essential to the success of every campaign.

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is an overwhelmingly popular patron saint who is cherished and adored alike by Hindus and Muslims of Sind. He was a great missionary, mystic, scholar, philosopher and poet. Several books in Persian and Arabic on philosophy and poetry are attributed to him.

He was ‘Lal’ (red) because of his red attire, ‘Shahbaz’ due to his noble and divine spirit that soared like a falcon higher and higher in the boundless heavens and ‘Qalandar’ since he belonged to Qalandria order of Sufism and was saintly, exalted and intoxicated with love for eternal being of God.

As Qalandar put it "Entrance of Heaven is towards me but valueless without you. Houri and nymph are towards me but nothing without you.I went to the heavens and lay down on the seat of GOD. Swear to GOD worthless without you"

The legend goes that the incumbent fakirs in Sewhan sent him a bowl of milk filled to the brim indicating that there was no room for anything more. But surprisingly, he returned the bowl with a beautiful flower floating on the top.

As Qalandar put it "I always do the devotional dance on fire in the love my friend. At times on soil at times on thorns"

The shrine around his tomb, built in 1356, gives a dazzling look with its Sindhi kashi tiles, mirror work and two gold-plated doors - one donated by the late Shah of Iran, the other by the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The inner sanctum is about 100 yards square with the silver canopied grave in the middle. On one side of the marble floor is a row of about 12 inch high folding wooden stands on which are set copies of Quran for devotees to read. On the other side, beside a bundle of burning agarbattis (joss sticks), are rows of diyas (small oil lamps) lighted by Hindu devotees.

As Qalandar put it "My heart is filled with the love of GOD, neither depressed nor have patience to my whole body"

Thousands of devotees flock to the tomb while every Thursday their number stands multiplied. Especially at the time of his ‘Urs’ (celebration anniversary) being a carnival as well a religious festival and celebrated every year on the 18th day of Sha’ban, Sehwan springs to life and becomes the focal point of more than half a million pilgrims from all over Pakistan. On each morning of the three day feast, the narrow lanes of Sewhan are packed to capacity as thousands and thousands of pilgrims, fakirs and devotees make their way to the shrine to commune with the saint, offer their tributes and make a wish. Most of the people present garlands and a green chadar (a cloth used to cover a tomb) with Qur’anic inscriptions in silver or gold threads. Humming of verses, singing and dancing in praise of the saint continues till late at night.

A devotional dance known as ‘dhamal’, being a frenzied and ecstatic swirl of the head and body is a special ritual that is performed at the rhythmic beat of the dhole (a big barrel-shaped drum), some of them being of giant size and placed in the courtyard of the shrine. Bells, gongs, cymbals and horns make a thunderous din, and the dervishes, clad in long robes, beads, bracelets and colored head-bands whirl faster and faster in a hypnotic trance, until with a final deafening scream they run wildly through the doors of the shrine to the courtyard beyond.