Every year, the town of Sehwan (Pakistan) hosts the Urs — a Sufi pilgrimage commemorating the death of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a 13th-century mystic poet — attracting over half a million pilgrims from across the country.
For three days, narrow streets fill with devotees and fakirs heading to the shrine to commune with the saint, pay homage, and offer their wishes.
The extraordinary and purifying festivities mix ecstatic music and dance, embodying a deep spiritual quest. In 2017, an Islamic State suicide attack at the shrine killed 88 people, reminding all of the strength and fragility of this living tradition.
The festival stands as a vivid testament to the power of Sufism.
