Sher Zaman Khoso Feature

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Sher Zaman Khoso

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Feature

Shrine of Odero Lal, a symbol of religious harmony

  It is said that two men were sitting in a forest, chatting and sharing ideas with each other but suddenly one of them left the other. At that movement a Christine king passed there and asked the second one, why don’t you have a place outside the forest where you should meet, discuss, share and spend time with each other? He replied that we don’t have such home to live in. After it, the king constructed a shrine, called “Ramila”. This is how the construction of shrines began to take place in different parts of world. In this regard, Sindh has great importance. It is estimated that shrines exist here before the advent of Islam. But after its advent, their number increased.

Shrine of Sheikh Muhammad Tahir known as Odero Lal is also one of them which is almost four hundred years old. 

Now its current descendent is Peer Ghulam Abass Sheikh. The outstanding fact is that the shrine is nonintervention on religious point of view. One can find the people of different religions and sects at this shrine. But overall, both Muslims and Hindus represent this shrine. The southern side of the shrine is temple while at its northern side a mosque is located. The distance between mosque and temple is of a wall, but hearts of the believers don’t consider the wall as a hurdle for mutualism between Hindus and Muslims. This structure of the shrine defeats the concept of fascism. It is great example of the religious harmony which may not be found at the other parts of South Asia, as Shrine of Odero Lal has rooted out the concept of superiority on the bases of creed, color, caste, race and religion. The existence of the shrine is based on realism and rectification of religious harmony.

Architecture and optimum design of the building of the shrine is of high quality; its white color represents peace and prosperity. White color keeps equal importance for Islam and Hinduism. The construction of the shrine is done by minorities, non Muslims. Color of specific religion was not found there but, few years ago Muslims changed the color of mosque from white to green, which was a step to create a rift between Muslim and Hindu harmony. After it, critical situations took place but representatives of religious harmony played their role in uplifting their relations, otherwise it might decrease religious harmony.

Annual fairs take place at this shrine. The festival, held by Muslims, takes place at time of harvesting wheat crop. While the time of fair, held by Hindus, is after wheat crop. The people of different South Asian countries especially large number of Indian attend the fairs. Ministers of minorities are also part of the festivals.  Literal programs are held in both festivals, where literates, writers and poets deliver their writings. Singers make the environment passional through their Sufi songs. Friday is the busiest day at this shrine, both Muslims and Hindus come there in great quantity. There is facility of music on every Friday night.

Safety house are found at the shrine of Odero Lal, where people of different parts of the country live. It is said that these safety houses were used at the time of wars. As holes in walls of the safety houses still exist. But this study needs research that who were involved in wars, either it was step to break religious harmony or it had other interests? But it is clear that still none power could defeat the religious harmony here, however struggles has taken place in regard this.

The view of the shrine at evening time looks mystical one, as thousand birds are flying around the shrine; free from beliefs, sects and religious complication as if they are giving an example of religious harmony by sitting at the top of temple and mosque. Therefore, it is time to learn from birds and make our society ideal and religious harmonized. Now our society is unable to face extremism, terrorism and sectarianism, while the defeat of these dangerous lies in religious harmony which is only possible through mystical path. Shrine of Odero Lal is one of its example, but there is still need of more examples.