Kazipet Dargah Gears Up for Three-Day Urs-e-Sharif Celebrations

A dargah is a special place where people remember a very kind and wise person.

This story is about a dargah in Kazipet, in the Indian state of Telangana.

The person remembered there is called Hazrat Syed Shah Afzal Biabani.

People think he was born around 1795 and that he memorised the Holy Quran when he was only 12 years old.

They believe he meditated for many years in the hills and finally found peace and enlightenment near a lake.

He helped sick and poor people and said that bonded labour, a kind of forced work, is wrong.

Every year, people hold a festival called Urs to honour him.

This year it will last for three days, from August 10 to 12.

There will be a colourful procession, special songs called qawwali, and prayers.

Many people from different communities visit the dargah, which is why it stands for friendship and harmony between people.