Pakistan invites applications for 200 pilgrims to attend Sufi commemoration in India

Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has invited applications from Pakistani pilgrims wishing to attend the annual commemoration activities of Hazrat Khwaja Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir (RA) in Kaliyar Sharif, India. The celebrations will take place from September 1-8, 2025.

The ministry has announced that 200 Pakistani pilgrims will be selected to visit India for the religious event. Due to a high number of applications expected, a computerized lottery will be held on April 15, 2024, at the Ministry of Religious Affairs to finalize the list of pilgrims.

Applicants must submit their forms by March 15, 2025, using the updated Ziarat form available on the ministry’s website and Facebook page. A ministry spokesperson emphasized that old forms would not be accepted.

The ministry has also clarified that it has not authorized any individual, institution, or private company to collect or process applications on its behalf. All applications must be submitted directly to the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Successful applicants will be notified following the lottery, and further details on visa processing, travel arrangements, and accommodations will be provided in due course.

Who was Hazrat Khwaja Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir (RA)

Hazrat Khwaja Alauddin Ali Ahmed Sabir (RA), also known as Sabir Kaliyari, was a renowned 13th-century Sufi saint of the Chishti Sufi order.

Born in 1196 in Herat, present-day Afghanistan, he was the spiritual successor of Hazrat Baba Fariduddin Ganjshakar (RA) and played a significant role in spreading Sufism in the Indian subcontinent.

He settled in Kaliyar Sharif, now in Uttarakhand, India, where his shrine remains a revered site for devotees.

Known for his strict asceticism and deep devotion, he is credited with founding the Sabiriya branch of the Chishti order. His annual urs attracts thousands of pilgrims from across South Asia.