LAHORE(National Times)- The 3-day celebrations of the 982nd annual Urs of the great Sufi saint Hazrat Data Ali Hajveri (RA) have begun today, with tight security arrangements in place. Lahore, known as Data Ki Nagri due to his revered presence, is home to Ali bin Usman Hajveri, famously known as Data Sahib (RA). Nearly a thousand years ago, he came to Lahore from Afghanistan and settled near Bhati Gate, where his exemplary character and conduct inspired many non-Muslims to embrace Islam. His timeless book Kashf-ul-Mahjub is regarded as a foundational work on Sufism. The Urs celebrations will continue from August 13 to 15, attracting devotees from across the country. The event will feature Qirat, Naat recitations, and Sufi music (Sama) gatherings. Langar (free meals) have been arranged for all visitors, along with milk stalls, while shops selling sweets and religious items have also been set up. On the security front, DIG Operations Faisal Kamran visited the shrine area and inspected the entry and exit points, instructing officers to further tighten security measures. To ensure safety, roads leading to Data Darbar have been sealed with containers and barbed wire, including the routes from Town Hall, Bilal Ganj, and Karbala Gamay Shah. However, passage for motorcyclists and pedestrians remains open. Meanwhile, the Punjab Government has declared a public holiday in Lahore on August 15 in connection with the Urs. The holiday will apply to departments like MCL, LDA, TEPA, WASA, PHA, Walled City Authority, RUDA, and LWMC zones, while the Civil Secretariat and subordinate offices will remain open. A formal holiday notification has also been issued.