The Khawaja Ghulam Farid urs (also spelt Khwaja) is held at Kot Mithan in Rajanpur district over three days, on 5 to 7 Rabi-ul-Sani in the Islamic calendar, according to the Punjab Auqaf department's events calendar. In 2025 it began in the last days of September; the 129th urs concluded around 20 September 2026. Because the Islamic calendar moves earlier each year, expect 2027 to fall roughly in the first half of September, and confirm the date nearer the time.
The urs marks the death anniversary of the Chishti Sufi poet, whose Saraiki verse is sung across southern Punjab and Sindh. This post covers the dates, what the programme includes, how to handle the crowds, and the security picture. For the shrine itself and the road from Multan, see our Kot Mithan shrine guide.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Kot Mithan (Mithankot), Rajanpur district |
| When | 5 to 7 Rabi-ul-Sani, per the Punjab Auqaf calendar |
| 2025 | Began 29 to 30 September (reports differ by a day) |
| 2026 | 129th urs, concluded around 20 September |
| Length | Three days |
| Programme | Waaz, samaa and kafi singing, plus a conference on his poetry |
When is the urs?
The Auqaf department lists the Darbar of Khawaja Ghulam Fareed under its Dera Ghazi Khan zone on 5 to 7 Rabi-ul-Sani. Rabi-ul-Sani is the fourth Islamic month, and its start depends on the moon sighting, so the Gregorian date can shift by a day either way.
Recent years show the pattern. The 2025 urs, the 128th, opened on 29 September per The Nation (other reports say 30 September). The 2026 urs, the 129th, had concluded by 20 September according to Radio Pakistan, which Business Insider Pakistan carried. Each year moves about 11 days earlier.
Local administrations sometimes change arrangements at short notice, so check with the district administration or the Auqaf office a week before.
What happens during the urs?
The 2025 opening began with the custodians washing the grave with rose water and laying a chadar and flowers, followed by Quran recitation and prayers. The Nation also reported a Khawaja Fareed Conference where scholars discuss his poetry and his message of peace.
The 2026 report mentions three kinds of gathering:
- Waaz, religious discourse
- Samaa, devotional music
- Kafi singing, the Saraiki verse form Farid wrote in, set to music
Farid wrote mainly in Saraiki, with verse in several other languages, and his Diwan-e-Farid is the best-known collection. Hearing his kafis sung where he is buried is the reason many people attend, even if they do not follow the language.
Government arrangements in 2025 included langar (free meals), accommodation, and health, police and Rescue 1122 camps, as reported by Dawn.
Practical advice for the crowds
Large gatherings at shrines in Pakistan are crowded and noisy, and Kot Mithan is a small town. Think about these before you go.
- Go early in the day, or on the first day, when the opening rituals take place.
- Do not plan to stay in town unless you have arranged it. We could not verify hotel capacity in Mithankot, and crowds will be at their largest during the urs.
- Dress modestly, cover your head and remove shoes at the entrance.
- Keep valuables to a minimum, and keep a family group together.
- Carry water and cash. Heat can still be severe in September.
- Expect road closures and slow traffic near the shrine. The drive from Multan is roughly 214 km one way, so plan an early start.
If you want a calmer visit, the shrine is open the rest of the year and much quieter outside the urs.
Is it safe to attend?
Rajanpur is a border district, with Sindh, Balochistan and the Indus riverine belt nearby, and it needs more care than most of southern Punjab. In 2026 Punjab and Sindh police ran a large operation against bandit gangs in the riverine Kacha areas of Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur and Ghotki, and news reports described more than 400 declared dacoits arrested in Rojhan by February. A policeman was killed in a separate Rojhan operation.
Pakistani visitors do travel to Kot Mithan for the urs, and the government deploys police and other services. Still, stay on the main paved roads, travel in daylight, avoid riverine tracks and check local news and police advice before leaving.
The UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan and against all but essential travel to Sindh north of Nawabshah. Rajanpur is not named in that advice, but it borders both. Overseas visitors should read their own government's guidance first, since travelling against it can void travel insurance.
Is it worth going?
The urs suits readers who already know Farid's poetry or Sufi shrine culture and are comfortable in dense crowds. It is a devotional event, not a festival with stalls and stages in the usual sense. It does not suit families with small children, anyone who dislikes crowds, or people expecting hotels and tourist services.
If you cannot manage the dates, visit the shrine on an ordinary day. Our experiences page lists other cultural events, and our Baba Farid urs guide covers the better-known Pakpattan event, which is a different saint.
Frequently asked questions
When is the urs of Khwaja Ghulam Farid?
On 5 to 7 Rabi-ul-Sani, according to the Punjab Auqaf calendar. In 2026 the 129th urs ended around 20 September.
Where is the urs held?
At the shrine in Kot Mithan, Mithankot tehsil, Rajanpur district, on the west bank of the Indus.
How many days does the urs last?
Three days, with prayers, waaz, samaa and kafi singing.
Is Khwaja Ghulam Farid the same as Baba Farid?
No. Baba Farid (Fariduddin Ganjshakar) is the 13th-century saint of Pakpattan. Khwaja Ghulam Farid is the 19th-century Saraiki poet buried at Kot Mithan.
