Devotees offer prayers during Sufi saint's Urs in Kashmir

Hundreds of Kashmiri devotees thronged the sacred shrine of the revered Sufi saint, Hazrat Sheikh Dawood on Saturday, to seek his blessings on the occasion of his 365th death anniversary

"Hindus, too, come here. Over the years they have left this place because of militancy. Pandits (Hindus) and Sikhs also come here," said a devotee, Bashir Ahmad.

Thousands of people, including women and children of various castes and creeds from different parts of the valley attended the prayers which will continue for two more days. People of Batamaloo and adjacent areas cooked and served only vegetarian foods to all the devotees.

"People come from far off places. The people of Batamaloo consider it a very sacred place. Whoever comes here with faith leaves with his wishes fulfilled," said another devotee, Reyaz Ahmad.

Dawood was a vegetarian and a sage of insight who is believed to have led a life of extreme piety and self abnegation.

The great Sufi saint was born at (Bri-Kuji) Habba Kadal, Srinagar and later on moved to Diarwan or present day Batamaloo, where his mausoleum is located.