Govt announces public holiday on Feb 19

The Sindh government has announced a public holiday on February 19, 2025, to mark the annual Urs of Sufi saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.

According to a notification issued by the Services, General Administration, and Coordination Department, all government and semi-government offices, as well as educational institutions across the province, will remain closed on Wednesday, February 19.

The Urs of Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is a significant religious and cultural event, drawing thousands of devotees to Sehwan Sharif each year for three days of spiritual and cultural festivities.

Earlier, the district administration of Jamshoro has declared February 17, 2025, Monday, as a local holiday in commemoration of the Urs of Sufi saint Hazrat Lal Shahbaz Qalandar on its 773rd anniversary.

Such a declaration is significant for the locals since devotees have started arriving in Sehwan from every corner of Pakistan to take part in the festivities.

This year’s Urs will commence on Monday and will continue for three days with various events of cultural and spiritual significance including a literary conference, traditional Sindhi wrestling (Malakhro), and the loud and colorful Dhamal dance.

The provincial government has provided support centers at the shrine to facilitate the flow of tens of thousands of devotees.

Read more: Govt releases public holiday schedule for 2025

The Urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar is of paramount significance; it’s an important and leading annual event with an inflow of one of the largest religious assemblages from Shaban 18 to 20 every year in Sehwan Sharif.

The devotees from Sindh, Punjab, and all other areas flock to the shrine in honor of the Sufi saint, an oath of values of the colorful cultural and spiritual diversity of the country.