Devotees remember Kashmir Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali on death anniversary

Thousands of devotees gathered in Budgam to commemorate the death anniversary of Sufi saint Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali at his shrine in Budgam district on Friday.

People joined night-long prayers with religious fervour at the holy shrine of the Sufi saint, who is also known as Alamdar-e-Kashmir and Nundreshi.

Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali was one of the most prominent scholars of Kashmir who used his poetry as a tool to spread true knowledge of Islam.

A devotee, Bashir Ahmed, said that people come here and pray to get rid of their pains.

"Kashmiris come to the shrine of Alamdar-e- Kashmir to offer payers when they go through pain. They find solution to their problems after offering prayers. I have heard this from forefathers that whenever Kashmir has faced any trouble, they have offered prayers here to get rid of the pains," said Ahmed.

Devotees from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir prayed for peace in the state after hundreds of people were killed and thousands of villages were devastated by the worst flooding in decades in the valley last month.

Another devotee, Irfan Rasool, said that Alamdar-e- Kashmir preached to work for people.

"The message of Alamdar-e- Kashmir was of brotherhood and to stay together without fighting, which is very relevant today. Now-a-days people use each other for their own greed," said Rasool.

The devotees on the occasion recalled the lessons of communal harmony and brotherhood taught by Alamdar-e- Kashmir. The authorities had made special transport and other arrangements for the devotees.

His most famous and oft quoted couplets is "Ann poshi teli yeli wann poshi" which means 'Food will last as long as forests last'

Sheikh Noor-ud-din Wali died at the age of 63.