Data Darbar

Data Darbar (Punjabi: داتا دربار, romanized: Dātā Darbār) is an important Islamic shrine in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is the largest Sufi shrine in all of South Asia. The shrine was built to hold the remains of a kind and wise Sufi saint named Ali al-Hujwiri. He is also called Data Ganj Baksh or Data Sahab. He traveled from Ghazni to Lahore in the 11th century during a time called the Ghaznavid period.

Many people visit Data Darbar, especially during a special yearly celebration called the urs festival. Up to one million visitors come to honor the memory of the saint and enjoy the peaceful and spiritual atmosphere of this important place.

Location

Data Darbar is found right in the middle of Old City Lahore. Nearby places include Lower Mall Road, Bhati Gate, Gawalmandi, and Karbala Gamay Shah.

History

The shrine began as a simple grave next to a mosque built by Ali Hujwiri in the 11th century in Lahore. By the 13th century, people believed that the spiritual powers of great Sufi saints stayed at their burial sites, so a larger shrine was built during the Mughal time to honor where Hujwiri was buried. The shrine grew bigger in the 19th century, and Hujwiri's mosque was rebuilt. Some historians think the current shrine isn’t where Hujwiri is actually buried; his real grave may be hidden elsewhere in Lahore.

The shrine became managed by the Pakistani government in 1960 to make sure caretakers weren’t taking advantage of visitors. It grew much larger in the 1980s under military leader Zia ul-Haq, becoming the biggest shrine in South Asia. Many new buildings were added, including offices, a library, and spaces for music and food. Since 1965, a two-day music festival has been held nearby.

Unfortunately, the shrine has faced some difficult times. In 2010, a terrible attack happened there, and many people were hurt or sadly lost their lives. Another similar incident occurred in 2019.

Architecture

The shrine of Hujwiri is located in a beautiful tomb from the Mughal era, made of carved white marble. The tomb is surrounded by a large marble courtyard. There is also a new school at the shrine that uses modern-style architecture.

Significance

The site is thought to be the most sacred place in Lahore. It has become an important center for the city's economy, politics, and social life, where people from all walks of life come together.

Many believe that the saint buried there has a special role among Sufi saints in the Indian subcontinent. Famous people such as Baba Farid, Moinuddin Chishti, Nizamuddin Auliya, Dara Shikoh, and Allama Iqbal visited the shrine. Even former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif often visited it.

The shrine holds special events with music and lights, and many people gather there daily.

Social services

The shrine offers many helpful services to the community. Every day, it provides free food to up to 50,000 visitors, a tradition that has lasted for 1,000 years. People who are facing hard times often support this free kitchen, showing the importance of helping others. The shrine also supports education and helps fund local hospitals.

Access

The shrine is always open and welcomes visitors who can enter freely. About 30,000 to 60,000 people visit each day, but this number can double on special days like religious holidays and Thursdays, which is a traditional night for visiting shrines. During the yearly urs festival, around 1,000,000 people come to the shrine.

The shrine is easy to reach from the Bhatti Chowk station of the Lahore Metrobus.

Administration

The shrine is managed by a special group called the Auqaf foundation, which follows rules set in 1960. About 200 workers help take care of the shrine, not counting security. This shrine brings in the most money for the Auqaf board compared to the around 400 shrines in Punjab province. It provides about one-third of all the board’s income. The shrine makes four times more money than it needs to keep running. Because it is very important in Punjab, the government watches over its religious activities more closely than other shrines in Pakistan.