The Sachal Sarmast urs is a three-day festival held every year at Daraza Sharif in Khairpur district, Sindh, to mark the death anniversary of the Sufi poet Sachal Sarmast. It is tied to the Islamic calendar and falls in Ramadan, so it moves about ten or eleven days earlier each year. In 2026 it took place in early March, and the Khairpur district administration declared a local holiday for 4 March.
This guide covers the dates, what the programme has included in recent years, and what a first-time visitor needs to know. For the shrine itself and the poet's life, see our guide to the Sachal Sarmast shrine at Daraza.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Place | Daraza Sharif, near Ranipur, Khairpur district, Sindh |
| Length | Three days |
| Timing | Starts around 13 or 14 Ramadan |
| 2026 | Early March; local holiday in Khairpur on 4 March 2026 |
| 2027 | Likely late February, depending on moon sighting |
| Recent edition | 204th urs, 14 to 16 March 2025 |
| Safety | Check current advice for Sindh north of Nawabshah |
Who was Sachal Sarmast?
Sachal Sarmast was born around 1739 and died in 1825, and lived his whole life at Daraza. He wrote in seven languages: Sindhi, Siraiki, Persian, Urdu, Balochi, Punjabi and Arabic, according to Wikipedia. That multilingual range is why he is often called the poet of seven languages. His verse is mystical, centred on the oneness of God, and is still sung across Sindh and southern Punjab.
His shrine at Daraza is looked after by his descendants. The current custodian is Khwaja Abdul Haq Farooqui, who appeared at the 2024 inaugural events according to Dawn.
When is the Sachal Sarmast urs?
The urs begins on the 13th of Ramadan according to Wikipedia and the state news agency APP, though reports for 2026 said celebrations would start on the 14th. The difference comes from the moon: Pakistan's months begin when the new moon is sighted, and the day count shifts by one depending on the date it was seen. Check the date with the Khairpur district administration or local news once Ramadan begins.
Recent editions as reported:
- 2024: the 203rd urs, with its opening ceremony on 26 March (Dawn).
- 2025: the 204th urs, 14 to 16 March (The Nation).
- 2026: the 205th urs, in early March, with a local holiday on 4 March (Pakistan Observer).
- 2027: Ramadan is expected to begin around 8 February 2027, which would put the urs in the last third of February. That is an estimate. Wait for the moon.
Because the festival falls in Ramadan, visitors travelling to it are fasting or travelling among people who are fasting. See our Karachi in Ramadan guide for what changes about eating, opening hours and daily rhythm in the month.
What happens during the three days?
The 2025 edition, as reported by The Nation, gives a good idea of the structure. It opened with Sindh's chief minister laying a chadar at the shrine, and went on to include:
- A musical conference at the Sachal Complex, with a following musical evening and literary conference on the closing day.
- An awards ceremony in the Mehfil-e-Sama Hall, where annual publications on the poet were launched. The mehfil-e-sama is the Sufi gathering of devotional music, and Sachal's kalam (verse) is sung there.
- An exhibition of local crafts at the Manjhnd Ground.
- A malakari (traditional wrestling) event at the Malakari Ground.
In 2024, Dawn reported that the culture department held literary sessions and exhibition stalls, and gave Sachal Awards to a singer, a researcher, a Sufi singer, an activist and a maker of Sughar, the handmade Sindhi craft. Sughar means skilled and refined, and in Sindh it also refers to the traditional crafts, such as ralli quilts, that women make at home.
We could not verify a specific "raga night" or a fixed running order. Programmes are set by the shrine committee and the culture department and change each year, so treat this as a typical outline and not a timetable.
Getting there
Daraza Sharif is in the countryside of Khairpur district, close to Ranipur and the main road network linking Khairpur and Sukkur. Khairpur is the nearest city of any size, and is reached from Sukkur by road. Our Khairpur guide covers the city and its date-palm economy.
On the festival days, expect the roads and the shrine area to be busy, with police controlling parking. Allow extra time, arrive in the day, and be ready to walk the final stretch. Local taxis and rickshaws from Khairpur or Ranipur are the practical options if you are not driving.
Is it safe to attend?
Pakistani visitors regularly go. The authorities treat the urs as a major event: for 2025, Aaj News reported that about 1,100 police personnel were deployed.
Overseas visitors should know that the UK government advises against all but essential travel to parts of Sindh north of Nawabshah, which includes Khairpur, and that travelling against your government's advice can void travel insurance. Check your own government's current advice, and check local news and police guidance before travelling, especially for a large religious gathering.
What to wear and how to behave
The shrine is a place of worship, and the urs draws devotees from across Sindh.
- Dress modestly. Loose, long clothes for everyone, and a dupatta or scarf for women.
- Remove shoes before entering the shrine area, as at any shrine.
- Follow the crowd flow and the volunteers. Don't push to reach the grave.
- Ask before photographing people, especially women and people praying.
- Respect the fast. Do not eat, drink or smoke openly in front of fasting people during daylight.
- Keep valuables minimal and stay with your group in the crowd.
Women visitors usually have separate areas at shrines, and many families attend together. If you are unsure, ask the committee volunteers.
Is it worth going?
It is worth it if you want to hear Sindhi Sufi music in its home setting and see a rural urs that is far less visited than Sehwan or Bhit Shah. It is a working religious event and a cultural festival, with no tourist infrastructure to speak of. Expect basic facilities and a lot of waiting.
If you want a bigger spectacle, see our guides to the Sehwan Sharif urs and Shah Abdul Latif urs. For the wider picture of Sindh's saints, our guide to Sufi shrines in Sindh is a good start, and our experiences page lists more events.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sachal Sarmast urs?
It begins around 13 or 14 Ramadan and lasts three days. In 2026 that meant early March, with a local holiday in Khairpur on 4 March. In 2027 it is expected in late February, depending on moon sighting.
Where is Daraza Sharif?
In Khairpur district, Sindh, near Ranipur. Khairpur city is the nearest base.
What happens at the urs?
Recent editions have had a chadar-laying ceremony, a musical conference and evening, an awards ceremony, a crafts exhibition and a wrestling event, plus recitals of Sachal's poetry.
Is there an entry fee?
We found no reports of one. Shrines are normally open to everyone, but check locally.
Can foreign visitors attend?
There is no ban that we found, but the UK government advises against all but essential travel to parts of northern Sindh, including Khairpur. Check your own government's advice first.