Pakistan’s, and in particular Sindh’s, union with Islam, Sufism, and Hinduism dates centuries back. Sitting along the west bank of the Indus River in Sehwan Sharif is the famous shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (Jhulelal) — a Sufi saint revered in many forms across religious sects. The multifarious synergy between Shahbaz Qalandar and Jhulelal, the Hindu deity, has resulted in countless mystic tales surfacing across Sindh and the rest of Pakistan.
These tales of cross-religious altruism and harmony have prompted millions of visitors to the shrine – myself being one of them.
The fused and fluent culture of Lal Shahbaz Qalander’s tomb embraces worship, spiritualism, poetry, and quite prominently, music in the form of Dhamaal.
Every Thursday, as the sun sets after the Maghreb prayer, the entrancing beat of the rhythmic drum meanders through the town of Sehwan, slowly getting louder as you approach the Shrine’s gate. What follows is a classic case of religious transcendence.
(Photos: Sameer Shafi Warraich)
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