SRINAGAR: The Urs of the 11th century Sufi saint, Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) will be celebrated throughout the Kashmir valley on Sunday with religious fervour. The nightlong prayers will be held in the shrines ahead of the Urs, which is observed on the 11th of the Islamic month of Rabi-us-Saani.

The main congregation will be held at shrine of Hazrat Gous-ul-Azam at Khanyar in the down town Srinagar city. Devotees will join night-long prayers atvarious shrines across Kashmir from Saturday night.

Even though the actual shrine of the revered saint is located at Baghdad in Iraq and he never visited the Valley in person, a sea of devotees throng every year the shrines dedicated to him at Khanyar and Sarai Bala areas. The imams and the clerics, on the occasion will throw light on the life and the teachings of Sheikh Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA).  Prayers will also be held at shrines at Varmul, Pinjura Shopian, Sirhama, Handwara and Tujjar Sharief in Sopore.

Meanwhile, Head of Mutehda Masjlis-e-Ulema and APHC chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has paid glowing tributes to the Sufi saint.

Mirwaiz said Syed Abdul Qadir Jeelani (RA) has ruled the hearts of Kashmiris since hundreds of years. He said his message of religion, love, brotherhood and humanity still find resonance with the people. He said his teachings would hold true and would remain valid always.