27th December 07

By Aftab Ahmed Baloch

BEFORE THE STORY BEGINS… As long as the history of Pakistan is recalled, this day will be referred to as the darkest day of Pakistan, when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (the former democratically elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, the daughter of East, the most powerful lady of the Muslim world was assassinated. When the mystery is still shrouded with so many questions & secrets to be revealed, like previous customary secrets of ‘assassination series’ in Pakistan where various known figures had been killed & their file were closed forever e.g. first prime minister: Shaheed Liaquat Ali Khan, Shaheed Murtaza Bhutto, former dictator Ziaul Haq, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Hakeem Muhammad Saeed, Mir Murtaza Bhutto and the great Baloch leader like Shaheed Akbar Bughti (former Chief Minister of Balochistan) who was also among the pioneers in Pakistan movement. Murder of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is being assumed as a crucial loss for entire nation because there was & is an acute lack of able leadership in Pakistan. The incident have not only changed forever the history of Pakistan, caused out of boarder upshots but above all has permanent impacts upon lives of individuals, as this unexpected occurrence had caused worst kind of riots & ethnic violence in the history of Pakistan, where several hundred innocent peoples were killed, let alone collective or personal financial damages which were in millions and never compensated by Pakistani government. This was the ‘fate deciding’ day for many families in Pakistan, which cannot be undo now. On that day, criminals, gangs, rapists including raged party workers well made the use of their inner evils. The dance of evil had been continued for almost 3 days in all over country especially in Karachi & interior Sindh (i.e. areas which are considered as PPPs vote bank). For 3-4 days all kinds of business & official activities in all over country, especially in Sindh Province were totally shunned down. This was the day in Pakistan after which the concept of ‘who is who’ and impressions of nationalities and communities went off deeper rather dreaming for a single nation, which is quite obscure now. Only after these incidents, provinces like Balochistan & Sindh are openly claiming for ‘independence’..The writings on the wall.. Many stories of 12/27 riot survivors later appeared in electronic & print media. In this article, I’ll try to reflect my own one to one eye accounts, besides facts, which were not disclosed in media i.e. how after the incident of Benazir’s murder at Rawalpindi (which was even kept secret during initial hours in the media), gradually most horrible riots erupted like a wildfire in the city. How police, law & order agencies were totally absent from the streets. How in Karachi, survivors after so many hours of brain torture & fear reached their homes … How families in cars looted by criminals, public & private vehicles were torched, lone women & girls (who had been lost / abducted & gang raped for whole night. How godowns, warehouses, shops, vehicles were looted by the masses & set ablaze. The conclusion of my article will not be in usual political, geographical tone (as much have already been written & available on-line), but in a more diverse ‘philosophical insights’… PLAY POINT… As event of assassination happened at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi, when she was about to leave the public meeting place in the evening of Thursday, December 27, 2007 around 6-7 p.m. and it was a usual peak working day in all over country. In Karachi city too after exhaustive routine work, people were heading towards their homes. Various people including women & children on their way from homes or were coming from Offices, factories, shopping centres, bazaars etc. I was too heading towards Gulshan from my office, when I reached near Metropolitan Hotel, it was already 7.20 p.m. After two earlier bloodiest incidents in the city I made it my habit to check the news updates on internet before leaving my office. And then now there were no news of her murder, except a bomb blast at Liaquat Bagh, Rawalpindi. These two bloodiest incidents were of May 12 & Oct. 18, 2007. Before I resume my topic, let me have few words on these two events too. On May 12, 2007 the sacked Chief Justice, Iftikhar M. Chaudri (now he has been restored to his previous position) was arriving in Karachi city to address at the Lawyer’s Bar, but he even never succeeded to come out of the airport, owing to crucial situation in the city, when terrorists of different political parties, especially of MQM had already taken over the control of city. A large number of people were killed during straight firing at Sharea Faisal, Karachi. The Pakhtoons party was in favor of welcoming Chief Justice while Urdu speaking (MQM folks) under the auspicious of Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf were against this idea. The result was worst kind of ethnic cleansing & death tolls. The day 12th May, 2007 is now celebrated as the bloodiest day in Pakistan. The second bloodiest encounter happened in the same year at October 18, when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto after a long time, was arriving from Dubai and she was proposed to speech at Mazar-e-Quaid, but she also never reached her destination, as there was complete black-out in the city, apparently MQM (the ‘sole owner’ of the city) is again looks involved in the scheme. When her procession was near Karsaz, a sudden bomb explosion caused hundreds of peoples, including majority of youths from Lyari as brutally killed. Victim’s body parts were ripped apart in several kilometers. The number reaches at mind blowing figure of 250-300. So it was around 7.20-7.30 p.m. the place was near Avari Tower, towards Sharea Faisal. There was total darkness as street lights had been switched off, people were already terrified, because of previous incidents & the news of Benazir ‘s murder was not yet broke out by the media, then suddenly a car driver shouted: ‘Benazir damakay men mari gaee!! (i.e. Benazir was killed in a Bomb Blast). The news received people’s sudden panic & shock . Everybody was helplessly trying to contact their homes but in vain, as all mobile phone networks were jammed. I also tried to contact my family but of no avail. Now every car driver tuned on their FM radios to listen more details. Traffic was moving inch by inch, there were no traffic constables, police or rangers, people are on the total mercy of criminals & thieves. Gradually news of riots was also breaking out and everybody was in a hurry and in panic. People just wanted to reach their homes at all costs. There were hue & cry on roads, cars horning, people cursing each others. Bikers were trying to pull their bikes over footpaths, mini buses were being emptied and people were walking on roads. I was too somehow managing to drive on footpaths like other panicked bikers. When I reached near Jail Chowrangi from Tariq Road, the time was 9.30 p.m.! i.e. it took 2 hours from Avari Tower to reach at Jail Chowrangi. BUT…. something was wrong there, people on streets including barefoot girls without duppata were screaming & running. O God! Ahead of 50 foot, raged mob were forcefully vacating buses / mini buses, cars, smashing windscreens, motorcycles & torching them. They were equipped with weapons. Some criminals by benefitting the situation were also looting vehicles, purse & mobiles from helpless public. The dance of evil had just begun. Some people were also looked wounded. It was simply the sight of doomsday (qayamat). Women & children were screaming in fear, no time for help, no security, complete lawlessness; the road towards NIPA was blocked by evil protestors & terrorists. Until next 2-days, there were no proper police patrolling and angry mob also torched Askari Park.

Now the traffic was diverted towards Liaquat National/Agha Khan Hospital Road, I also took it granted & turned my bike swiftly towards the direction. Noises were slowing down. Again inch by inch movement, when traffic reaches in front of Liaquat National & Agha Khan Hospitals, an elder biker fell on the road some youths including me stopped for a while to help him. He was unconscious & looked a victim of heart attack, we tried to give him first aid but of no use as people behind us, continuously shouting with rage ‘Choro is budday ko jaldi yahan say nikalnay ki karo, halaat bohot kharaab horahay hen’ (meaning: leave this old man alone, situation is getting worse, get out of the way)... Simply nobody was ready for a rescue, and then some volunteers carried him to Liaquat National. Again I checked cell’s network there was no signal yet, except the time indication as 10.10 p.m. I was thinking that my family must be disturbed, as they would be watching ‘breaking news’ on TV. We were again on our way; it is just before the civic centre bridge. Suddenly at yards distance two roughs were seen dragging a helpless girl, everybody noticed but did nothing, as each & everyone is fighting for its own survival. Roughs with helpless girl were disappeared in one of the office buildings. The selfish approach had already overtaken everything…

On top of the bridge fire was erupting, a mini bus was just lit by angry protestors. It heat was so intense that instead of a cold night of December, I was sweating. Now there is no chance to climb up on the bridge. I thought, as it is the last day of my life. Seeing the situation people had stopped to cross the bridge. Agay jana mushkil hai, (it is impossible to move further) one of bikers said. Bhai moat ko dawat daina hai. (It is likely inviting death!). Bike yaheen chore dayten hen (leave bike here). Finally I decided to sacrifice my new bike too. Nearby civic centre is a service road, where people were parking their bikes on the mercy of criminals. I also decided to leave my bike and walk home, as it was quite better option to leave the infested place now. I parked & locked it with cable chain. I was quite sure, that sooner it would also be torched like others. I must get the hell out of there. After leaving my bike on the mercy of God, instead of approaching from the bridge, I decided to walk down roadside, as I had to reach to Gulshan railway crossing. Everybody was escaping, some helpless women were trying to fetch a rickshaw, but no rickshaw driver was willing to carry her. Firing & torching still continued. Rascals with weapons were roaming freely on roads, looting & torching everything on their way. Somehow, I managed to cross the road, from Expo centre. As soon as I crossed, exchange of firing started, I ran as fast as I could, while bowing my head down. There were also other peoples, running for their lives, some people were watching from their apartments, and enjoying the ‘live show’. When I reached some safer distance, I checked my mobile again, the signals were ok & the screen was displaying numerous miscalls! Some of them from my house, including some unknowns. I immediately contacted home, it picked up in no time, it was the voice of my daughter, she was continuously weeping, and she asked ‘where are you papa? Benazir is killed in a bomb blast! We were terribly upset by the critical situation of the city. I told them that I’m fine & just a few yards walking distance away, don’t worry for me. Finally I reached home, family members vehemently welcomed as if I was coming abroad. In violence, much damage had been caused all over country, especially in Sindh province, as what TV is showing. Suddenly my cell rang again, the number was same unknown. I picked it up. The other side was a youth of our old neighborhood, who had been working somewhere near Liaquat National Hospital. He cried that he is with his office companion & badly trapped in riots. He asked me to pick him up from the roadside as he cannot go to violence infested Lyari. Now, I was given a task to pick the guy from roadside. My brother alongwith his children have also been trapped at our home. May be thousands of people remain trapped in each other’s homes, offices & factories., Although it was too risky to step outside at that moment of violence, but we were bound to pick him up anyway. The firing was still continued outside.. We had to reach near Expo Centre, where our Lyari fellow has to be dropped by his office companion. As I had already left my bike on the mercy of rioters at Civic centre, we walked on foot. The distance towards Expo Centre passed safely. The main expo centre road was giving empty look, except some panicked bikers & private car drivers. Some smoke emitting old tires, bikes & mini buses were still lying on roads. My panic was growing, as our friend didn’t reach yet. I kept giving him miscalls. Finally he reached over bike with his office colleagues. He looked upset & worried; I thanked the guy, who left him safe & sound. Now we’ve to hurry & must move from here, I told them. When we reached near Gulshan railway crossing, firing had erupted. Some rascals on four wheelers, equipped with automatic weapons, were spreading harassment. People were fleeing for their lives, we too ran as fast as we could. Far & wide, there was no existence of police or rangers. By some means, we changed our root & reached home safe & sound. Now after these entire minds blowing incidence clock was giving a time of 11.40 p.m. Our Lyari friend also informed his home and they were all thankful to us. They continued to leave with us for further 3-4 days, finally the erupted lava of agitations came down & they leave for Lyari. RIOT TALES FROM LYARI & ELSE… Riot tales, on account of Benazir murder was worst in the city. Various warehouses, godowns/stores, shops (mostly belonged to Punjabi, Memons) were looted & torched. The poverty stricken Lyarites, which have always been kept on empty promises, fill their houses with looted grains, sugars, flour bags, mineral waters & what not! Various factories, alongwith their workers (who had been trapped because of city riots) were set ablaze. The incidents of gang rapes were also reported by the witnesses, near Bin Qasim & other far flung factory areas. But media never reported them. The innocent daily worker women & girls were the primary victims. On that day of 27th December, 2007 many families who had been waiting for their beloved, never found them alive! Various taxi, rickshaw drivers were killed & their vehicles torched for the unseen crime, worst part is they were never compensated by government or any agency; as a result their family members are still suffering for the incurable miseries. Perhaps for them the life will not be normal again, NEVER! CRUX OF THE STORY.. What I want to convey that what we do in this world, be in a negligible form has its impacts, sometimes worst, sometime unnoticed. Worst in a case that unending series of chain disruption occurred, causing many lives at stacks, beyond control of human being. Sometimes the decision of an individual is the prime factors. Just look at various Wars, miserable events of the world, mostly of them were started with trivial matters. Benazir murder too must have been decision of an individual or groups, but what was the OUTCOME, is evident to all..

Mysterious ‘chain disruption’ can be also be understood in a technical daily life manner. For example, you are riding on a bike, the chain is most important part of any bike, and it runs wheel from engine movement. Suddenly a single link (may be negligible if lying alone) is broken. What would happen?? The worst outcome could be the fatal accident, costing your life, if you are riding on a busy fast road, as a truck could crush you, or in other cases, you could be late to reach your proposed destination, which may be further linked to other events & people or group of peoples.

Further these reactions are not surprising but a common instinct of human being. Whenever a revolution, war or anarchy like situation erupts in any part of the world, the reactions in form of mass revenge, murder, rape, looting speak of its worst kind. Human history is full of such bloody incidents. Be it French revolution, 1857 Indian Independence War, Nazi death camps of Auschwitz, Russian attacks over Afghanistan, Algerian or Indonesian massacre, China Taiwan massacres, Vietnam War, East/West Pakistan separation, Gulf war, 9/11 & the recent Iraq / Afghan War, routine suicide bomb blasts in Pakistan….

Amazingly, in all these situation, all moral, ethical, theistic, conscious norms become meaningless and human being demonstrate as it’s nastiest. Here again the question arises that in such cases what are the role of religion, culture & consciousness? Because in each & every worst case ‘mean behavior’ always overcomes every earned traits of human being.

The entire universe including its natural principles is established on delicate balances. These delicate balances are called ‘divine & pre-planned’ by THEOLOGIANS and ‘accidental / evolved’ by AGNOSTICS. Whatever they may be, but each & every disruption from human being to alter these ‘delicate balances’ has its own price & consequences, some less & some higher.

If we throw a pebble in one part of the ocean, it creates impulses to the other part, while it is quite another story that whether we are capable to measure the impacts or not.

We cannot undo the past events which are responsible for current events. We also understand that for any event to take place there must be numerous events in the past which make this event possible. Each event is a culmination of innumerable events in the past as well as forerunner of some other event in the future. It is impossible for human being to change the course of events, the ‘chain reaction’ since the causes of those events lie not in his domain but in the whole of the past of the universe i.e. what is called as a FATE or destiny.

But revolving around ‘fate’ our freedom is only limited to the actions we take but not to the outcome of that act.!! This sounds logical because the outcome of any act depends on so ‘many factors’ that one cannot realistically hope to have control over all those factors but becomes part of it. That is why even the best laid plans of the mightiest and most intelligent people turn to dust. ********************

FUNERAL OF THE SEA GIANT VESSEL & GADDANI’S ENVIRONMENTAL HAVOC

By Aftab Ahmed Baloch

It was the second largest ‘floating sea object’ after Jahre Viking…, built by French.., once used to carry half a million tons of crude oil from the waters of Saudi Arabia to United States!…., with a mind blowing weight of 555,000-tonns!, longer than the Eiffel Tower (about 1400 ft), higher than a 10 story building!…, wider than a Tennis Court…. As we heard the news of her arrival that she is being dragged to Gaddani (the second largest ships graveyard in Asia) for her final doom, so we had decided to reach at any cost from Karachi. At first, we were quite mesmerized by the enormous size of the ship, as ever built by human being. The scrapping process of the ship had already taken place, when we reached there, the outer shell of the ship along with the first tank had already been slashed down, yet the horizontal expansion was still enough to scare us, which is presenting the view of a gigantic castle or a giant wall, but it is true that the death of giant tanker had brought jobs for daily workers. There were noises of cranes, welding machines, vehicles movement. We were asked to be careful at sight, as any piece of iron could crash us. According to the news source, the ship was obtained by M/S Usman Enterprises as a ‘scrap for’ US$25.5 million by winning the contract. Infact, we visited there on Sunday, but the cropping job was still on boom, workers/labors were engaged in dismantling process through gas cutters, cranes etc. The security Incharge allowed us to roam at the site at our own risk, every where there were pieces of iron sheets, rusty pipes & junks, the sand was covered with residual oil and a pungent gassy smell was also noticed us, yet the magic of Sea Giant had overcome all troubles & fears. Other plots, apart from the sight of Sea Giant, were showing the worst picture of environment. Several dead fishes, wooden leftovers of ships were scattered all over the shore showing the lack of proper cleaning & maintenance. The labors were engaged without any safety measures & protectors like without wearing safety helmets, special clothes, goggles or gloves etc, seems like worker’s safety is clearly not the ‘top priority’ job at Gaddani. Various organizations & worker’s association had shown their concern over meager safety measures for workers & threat to environment but of no use.

Some Baloch dwellers, unaware of the devastating environment, were busy in fishing, hanging on a slashed deck of a rusty ship. Upon enquiry, one of the person, spoke that emitting oil and gassy chemicals from the ships have forced them further offshore in search of fish and have also caused stomach, eye and respiratory troubles, he also explained that at night there is no street lights, because the government or the owners of the ship-breaking industry have no interest, they don’t care about labor’s rights, except earning money…. An out-dated Oil Rack was also there, waiting for his final fate…, the sun was just setting in the middle of oil rack which was suddenly captured by me. When we were walking outside the ship’s graveyard towards the darkening road, the Titanic’s favorite song echoed in my imagination: “My Heart goes on…..

For interest of the readers: Presently the world’s largest Oil Cargo or King of the Tankers is Jahre Viking, having a length of 1,503 feet long with 226 feet wide!, claiming the tonnage of 565,000! The second largest is China’s Emma Maersk, carries a length of 1302 ft, and 207 ft wide. All these ships are unable to negotiate with Panama or Suez canal. The current largest passenger ship is the Queen Mary II, having a length of 1132 ft & width of 134 feet, while Voyager of the Seas and the Explorer of the Seas, both are 1,020 feet long and 158 feet wide!, with a tonnage of 140,000 and carry roughly 3,000 passengers with crew, run by Royal Caribbean International Cruises.

Oasis of the seas is another entry into the passenger line ship, having a length: 1181 ft, and 154 ft wide, claiming a capacity of 5400 passengers!!

The legendary Titanic, was not popularized until after the incident & its movie by James Cameron . It was only about 883 feet long, 93 feet wide, and weighed 45,000 tons, with the facilities of a squash court, swimming pool, and a gymnasium. She could hold 3,500 passengers with crews but life boats were too short roughly for 1,000 passengers i.e. why worst kind of catastrophe had happened. It was claimed that ‘Not even God could sink that ship’ but what had happened….It was sink in its very first trip. In future there is also planning to build aFreedom Ship (a floating city), the ever largest passenger vessel. It has a proposed length of 4,500 feet!, with a width of 750 feet, and a height of 350 feet, if built it would be more than 4 times longer than the Queen Mary II.

Ending Note: The Gaddani could be the fantastic visiting place for public too, as now & then ships are brought here for scrapping purpose like famous Sea Giant or Lady Diana’s Royal ships were brought for final doom. But perhaps mean money earners industrialists has no time for such stupid thinking, except making quick money.

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MANGHOPIR CROCODILE FESTIVAL & SHEDIS

By Aftab Ahmed Baloch It is almost over two days and nights; the Shedi devotees of Manghopir has been dancing and praying together with a rising frenzy of passion & piety. The fearless march towards the crocodile pond begins, people including women and children singing on the African drumbeat in a strange mixed language of Swahili & Balochi, even after generations to generations the ritual is unchanged. Finally they’ve approached the algae loaded water pond, where some pairs of crocodile eyes are floating on the surface. A chunk of meat from a freshly sacrificed goat suddenly thrown to ‘moro sahib’ (the chief of crocodiles, the eldest one). The creature gulps the chunk, and dives into the water! The obligation has been accepted. Everybody cries out with joy & dance with more zeal. Now people begin to feed remaining reptiles. The sacred fiesta continues for another 2-3 days, visitors come & offer fresh meat, pray at the shrine of Sufi Sakhi Sultan (Mangopir) and go away… this ritual has been happening for centuries. Dear readers this interesting place is nothing but Manghopir, a remote settlement of Karachi, names after Pir Mangho, a place of famous sufi shrine, a home to natural sulpher geyser or hot springs which have curative powers for skin diseases and the abode of crocodiles - believed to be the disciples of Pir Mangho. Balochs often call this place as ‘Mangi’ or Garm Aap (due to presence of natural hot springs). Mangopir’s dance & crocodile festival, probably unique around the world, which shows how this ancient African custom has blended with Islamic mysticism & Balochi culture!

SHEDIS & FESTIVAL: Before, I cut open mysteries of the festival & its roots, let me tell you something about Shedis, one of the Pakistan's smallest ethnic community with dark-skinned, curly-haired, who are said to be the descendants of African slaves brought from Zanzibar and vigorously maintains their distinct African identity in the midst of the dominating South Asian cultures. Presently, these African-Pakistanis live in various part of Pakistan like in Karachi (Lyari, Malir, Moaach Goth, Manghopir) and some in interior Sindh at Badin and in Balochistan at Lasbella etc. but majority of them are living in Lyari, due to the fact, this place is often called ‘Little Africa’. In Baghdadi, Lyari (an abode of such ethnicity) there are places which named after Shedi Village or Nairobi. During the British rulers or even before, Baghdadi and many areas in Lyari functioned as the colony of slaves. Women from these minorities worked as nannies for the children of Hindu traders”. Later, these people amalgamated themselves with local Balochs and also adopted various Balochi & Islamic traditions, besides maintaining their own distinct African cultural heritage. For example, some African pro festivals like Gowaati, Layvaa (dancing across the fire), dhammal, beating Congo Drums & many witchcrafts are no doubt the only ‘things’ that still connects them to Africa! A prominent Urdu poet and Lyari citizen, Mr. N.M. Danish, proudly claims to be the great-great-grandchild of an African slave from Zanzibar. “Now after centuries of amalgamation, these peoples are proudly called themselves as Baloch. ORIGIN OF PIR MANGHOP / MANGHOPIR & CROCODILES:

The root of this festival is connected with Pir Mangho, originally is a Sufi saint Sakhi Sultan. Legend says that Sakhi Sultan (later known as Pir Mangho) was one of the disciples of Baba Farid, (a well-known saint of Punjab) who was so pleased with Mangho due to his devotion and meditation that he gave him the title of ‘Pir’, thus Mangho became a saint equally respected by both Hindus and the Muslims. The crocodiles are an integral part of the shrine and chronicle of the saint and are so tightly interwoven that it is almost impossible to judge between fact & fiction. There are many traditions about myth of crocodiles, like it is believed that Baba Farid Ganj-e-shakar gifted reptiles to Manghopir. Second myth is quite fictional, i.e. during a visit of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (who was also a celebrated saint of Sindh), in order to make the barren valley more inhabitable, had caused a hot spring to issue forth from the rock and a grove of date palms to spring up from the ground and the crocodiles were originally leapt out lice of Saint Baba Farid, which he then gifted to Pir Mango, to put them into the pond and then each turned into a crocodile! When according to some reasonable / scientific explanation, the crocodiles were introduced in Manghopir by Mor Mubarak (a saint), who brought them from a cave in Korangi, as a result, after the name of saint, the chief of crocodiles (the eldest one) came to be known as ‘Mor Sahib’.

Historians also told that these crocodiles were actually carried through with giant floods and later resided into this pond. Archaeological evidence also suggests the existence of a Bronze Age settlement (2500-1700 BC) in the vicinity, who used to worship crocodiles and before the advent of Islam crocodiles were also thought sacred for Hindus.

THE FESTIVAL & MAKING PLEDGES (MANNATS):

This unique festival is regularly celebrated every year during the 3rd Islamic month of Rabbiul-Awwal and runs for a week. The colorful rituals of the Shedi tribe also flavored this festival a uniquely African touch. The festival attracts many people of all ethnic groups, besides people make their mannats (pledges) at the shrine of Pir Mangho through offering fresh sacrificial meat (to the crocodiles ( the sacred disciples), so that their obligations can be fulfilled. Shedis also believe that the creatures do not harm the saint's followers. The highlight of the Manghopir festival also known as ‘Shedi Mela’ is the garlanding ceremony during which the gaddi nasheen (the holy successor) puts a garland, made of flowers around the neck of chief of crocodiles (the Mor Sahib). Success of this sacrament depends solely on the mood of creature. But according to it keeper, the large reptile obliges most of the time and voluntarily presents himself for the ritual, obviously chunks of meat do the job easy. As with almost all such holy shrines, Manghopir's shrine is also located on a small hill. Underneath small green painted tomb, the grave of Sufi saint remains uttered with embroidered silk fabrics (the Chahdar), the flowers & what not holy, while outside musicians with traditional instruments sing praises for the saint. The saint's followers are mainly Shedis, during the festival the tomb is washed with sandalwood and rose water. Outside the shrine premises, there are various stalls and mini-shops, selling knickknacks and items associated with the shrine.

Nearby is a pond, measuring about 400 feet long and 200 feet wide, which nourished by an underground stream, contains hundreds of crocodiles from six to seven feet in length. ‘Mor Sahib – the Chief of Crocodiles (the eldest one) is about 100 years old and over 12 feet in length. The flourishing breeding has made the pond too small for the expanding crocodile population, as crocodile is a rough & tough creature and famous for its longevity. Now, this great heritage is under threat due to the water shortage & space shrinkage. Some influential persons has also achieved illegal water pumping at the natural source of freshwater, resultantly, very little water trickles into the pond," During the week-long festival) among Shedis, a large number of people also arrive from all over Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab. There is much joy & fun around when caravans of devotees make their way to the shrine.

As the Sindh Auqaf Department, Govt. of Pakistan regularly appoints official caretaker for such shrines & holy places. These caretaking job normally inherited & family based, like son after father. This shrine too has a caretaker to upkeep crocodiles & the shrine. But as usual in Pakistan, the Auqaf department is not paying proper attention to this sacred & wonderful place except regular devotees, who flock to the shrine, and semi-aquatics get a regular supply of fresh meat. Anyone desirous of having his wish fulfilled, usually slaughters a goat or sheep and offers fresh meat to crocodiles. Large daigs of Biryanis are also cooked in different occasions for free distribution to visitors & beggars.

HOT / HEALING SPRINGS & OLD GRAVES: There are also hot springs at a distance of about kilometer from the shrine. Warm water passing through the sulphur rocks contains some medicinal qualities and many people with skin diseases reach here to have a bath for cure. Apart from local bathing ponds, there are also reserved hot bath facility for man & woman who can afford. Folks from long distances regularly visit here to cure themselves. Scientific analysis also shows that this warm water is naturally saturated with carbon dioxide, besides containing some sulpher elements which is no doubt possess antiseptic qualities for certain skin diseases. Nearby shrine, there are also beautiful graves made of engraved yellow stones, probably couple of hundred years old. These graves resembles to those found in Makli (interior Sindh), but now due to negligence the graves are in shabby conditions.

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