The urs of Rehman Baba (often spelled Rahman Baba) is the yearly three-day commemoration of the Pashto Sufi poet at his shrine in Hazar Khwani, on the outskirts of Peshawar. It usually falls in spring, between about late March and early May, and combines Quran recitation at the shrine with a Pashto mushaira, seminars and free food. There is no fixed calendar date that we could verify, so the dates change from year to year and are announced locally.
This guide covers who Rehman Baba was, what the urs involves according to press reports, when it has been held in recent years, and what a visitor should know about security and etiquette. Peshawar is on the UK government's list of places it advises against travelling to, so please read the safety section before planning anything.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Rahman Baba shrine complex, Hazar Khwani, Peshawar |
| When | Spring, usually a Friday to Sunday; dates differ each year |
| Organiser | Rahman Baba Adabi Jirga (a literary body) |
| Main events | Quran recitation, wreath laying, Pashto mushaira, seminar, awards, langar |
| Entry | The shrine is open to the public; some sessions are held at other venues |
| Calendar | Dates are announced by the organisers; check before travelling |
Who was Rehman Baba?
Rehman Baba was a Pashtun Sufi poet who lived near Peshawar in the 17th century and died in the early 18th. Biographers differ on the exact years. Wikipedia gives roughly 1632 to 1706, while some other sources give 1650 to 1717, so we have not printed a single set of dates here. His Diwan contains 343 poems, mostly in Pashto, and the first printed edition appeared in Lahore in 1877.
His verse is about love, humility and a life without hatred, and it is quoted in everyday Pashto speech. Many Pashtuns hold it in very high regard, and Wikipedia notes that some regard it as next only to the Quran in reverence. Together with Khushal Khan Khattak, whose tomb is covered in our guide to the Khushal Khan Khattak tomb, he is among the best known names in Pashto literature.
When is the urs?
The urs marks the poet's death anniversary, but the organising body sets the programme rather than a fixed Gregorian date, and press reports show it moving around:
- April 2015: a three-day urs starting on a Friday in early April (Dawn).
- April 2017: three days ending on Sunday 9 April (Dawn).
- April 2019: a three-day programme in mid-April (Dawn).
- March 2022: a two-day urs on 26 and 27 March (Dawn).
- 2026: Dawn reported a seminar and literary awards ceremony arranged by the Adabi Jirga in connection with the annual urs, published on 3 May 2026.
So the pattern is spring, and the 2026 programme has already happened. For 2027 we cannot give a date. Plan for March to May and confirm with the Adabi Jirga or Peshawar press a week or two beforehand. If any date you see follows a lunar calendar or depends on moon sighting, treat it as approximate until it is announced.
What happens at the urs
The programme has two sides, devotional and literary, and you can see both in the reports.
At the shrine. Dawn's coverage across several years describes Quran recitation (khatm), floral wreaths laid on the grave, public visits, and free meals (langar) for visitors. In 2015 it also described qawwali-style singing with the rubab and mangay, folk dancing and zikr, and large crowds that included women from far-off areas.
The mushaira. The Pashto poetry session is the heart of the literary side. At the 2017 urs, Dawn counted about 150 poets from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the former FATA, Balochistan and Afghanistan, in two sessions: one for guest poets from far away and one for local ones. Dhamaal, the Sufi whirling dance, was also reported that year.
Seminars and awards. Scholars present papers on his poetry and his thinking on peace and humility, and the Adabi Jirga hands out literary awards. These sessions are often held in a hall or hotel in Peshawar rather than at the shrine itself. In 2022 Dawn placed the main events at a science college in the city, while devotees also went to the shrine.
If you do not read Pashto, the mushaira will be hard to follow, but the atmosphere is the point. Listening costs nothing, and someone nearby will usually explain a verse if you ask.
The shrine complex
The shrine stands in Hazar Khwani on the outskirts of Peshawar. On 5 March 2009 militants bombed it, causing severe damage. It was rebuilt for about Rs 39 million and reopened to the public in 2012, according to Wikipedia and Dawn. The complex includes the mausoleum, a mosque, a library hall and an auditorium.
At the 2015 urs, a participant told Dawn that some lights and parts of the building were in disrepair despite the reconstruction, and the organisers have asked for renovation of the mushaira hall. Do not expect a polished tourist site. It is a working shrine and a community space.
Is it safe? Peshawar and the UK advice
The UK government's Pakistan advice, updated on 22 September 2026, advises against all travel to Peshawar and many other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For foreign-passport holders, that advice can void travel insurance, so check your own government's current position first.
Pakistani visitors do travel to Peshawar, and the city's own residents attend the urs. But 2026 has been a hard year for the province. On 18 September a Kohat police lines attack killed 23, according to Dawn, and in May an attack in Bannu killed 21 police officers. A gathering at a shrine is a public place that attackers have targeted in Pakistan before, and Rehman Baba's own shrine was bombed in 2009.
If you plan to go:
- Check local news and police advice in the days before, and be ready to cancel.
- Go with someone from Peshawar rather than alone, and share your plans with them.
- Keep to the daytime programme, and leave before crowds thin out in the evening.
- Expect security checks, and cooperate with them.
Etiquette at the shrine
- Dress modestly. Shalwar kameez, with a scarf or shawl for women, and cover your head if asked.
- Remove shoes before the grave area and keep your voice low during recitation.
- Ask staff where to stand if the grave area is busy, and follow their lead on where men and women stand.
- Ask before photographing people at prayer, and follow any signs about photography at the grave.
- Accept langar if it is offered, and do not leave food.
- Keep to what you can observe. You do not need to take part in rituals to be welcome.
Is it worth going?
For people interested in Pashto literature, yes: the mushaira is one of the best chances to hear the language read aloud by serious poets. For a general sightseer it is a modest event, with few facilities and a security situation that calls for caution.
If you want a safer way to meet the poetry, read his Diwan in translation, or visit Peshawar's other heritage places in a normal season. Our Peshawar safety guide explains the city's current picture, and Islamia College, where the Pashto Department chair attended the 2026 seminar, is a more accessible stop. For comparison with Punjab and Sindh, see our Data Darbar urs guide, our wider look at Sufi shrines in Pakistan, and our experiences page.
Frequently asked questions
When is Rehman Baba's urs held?
Usually in spring, from around late March to early May, over two or three days. Press reports show April for most years and March in 2022, so confirm the dates with the organisers each year.
Where is Rehman Baba's shrine?
In Hazar Khwani, on the outskirts of Peshawar. The complex was rebuilt after a bomb attack in 2009 and reopened in 2012.
What happens at the urs?
Quran recitation, wreaths at the grave, free meals, a Pashto mushaira, seminars and literary awards. Reports from earlier years also describe qawwali and dhamaal.
Can a non-Pashto speaker attend the mushaira?
You can go and listen, though the poetry is in Pashto. Visitors are generally welcomed, but go with someone who can translate if you want to follow it.
Is it safe to attend the urs in Peshawar?
The UK advises against all travel to Peshawar, and there have been serious attacks in the province in 2026. Many locals attend. Check current news, go with local company and be prepared to change plans.
