Baba Nagri Shrine’s Community Kitchen Feeds Thousands Daily and Tens of Thousands During Urs

The Baba Nagri shrine, also known as Darbar Laar Sharief Wangat, boasts one of the largest free community kitchens, or ‘langar’, serving around 1,000 people daily. During Urs days, this number surges, with food being prepared for over 70,000 to 80,000 devotees.

Operating 24 hours a day, the langar is staffed by both management and numerous volunteers who tirelessly serve the many visitors. According to the shrine’s administration, this round-the-clock service ensures that devotees have access to free meals throughout the year.

Mian Mehar Ali, overseeing the arrangements, shared with Greater Kashmir that on Urs days, a special langar is organized, where food for thousands is prepared. Volunteers noted that special sweet rice, made with rice, ghee, and dry fruits, is served on these occasions.

Managing such a large-scale operation daily is no small feat, but the dedicated volunteers and about 100 permanent workers ensure everything runs smoothly, from cooking to timely delivery of food.

Baba Nagri shrine is one of the most revered sites for the Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari communities in Jammu and Kashmir and beyond. Every year, tens of thousands of devotees gather at the shrine on June 7 and 8 to observe the annual Urs of Sufi saint Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanwi (RA), also known as Hazrat Baba Ji Sahib Larvi, who was a prominent 18th-century Sufi saint and social reformer.

Nestled at the base of a mountain in the picturesque village of Wangat, the shrine is surrounded by lush forests and becomes a focal point of religious activities year-round. On Urs days, the site transforms into a bustling hub for devotees.

The Mian family, the shrine’s custodians, are responsible for accommodating the thousands of visitors each year. The current Sajadh Nasheen, Mian Altaf Ahmad, inherited the position from his late father, Mian Bashir Ahmad Larvi, who succeeded Mian Nizamuddin Kiyanwi in overseeing the shrine.