The Shah Noorani urs is held in the first half of Ramadan at the shrine of Syed Bilawal Shah Noorani, in a valley near Lahoot Lamakan in Khuzdar district, Balochistan. In 2019 it ran from 9 to 12 Ramazan, according to The Express Tribune, and the 10th of Ramadan is usually given as the main day. In 2026 that fell around 27 February to 2 March; in 2027 it should fall around 16 to 19 February, though the exact days depend on when the Ramadan moon is sighted.
This guide is about the urs itself: the fair, the evening dhamaal, the pilgrims who arrive on foot from Sindh, and how an outsider should behave there. The road from Karachi and the facilities at the shrine are covered in our Shah Noorani shrine guide, and the security picture is in its own section below. Read it before making any plan.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Where | Shrine of Shah Noorani, near Lahoot Lamakan, Khuzdar district, Balochistan |
| When | Early Ramadan; 9 to 12 Ramazan in 2019, with the 10th as the main day |
| 2026 | About 27 February to 2 March (already held) |
| 2027 (expected) | About 16 to 19 February, subject to moon sighting |
| What happens | Dhamaal, devotional singing, langar, a large fair |
| Crowds | Reported as hundreds of thousands at the peak |
| Travel advice | The UK advises against all travel to Balochistan |
When is the Shah Noorani urs?
The urs marks the saint's death anniversary and follows the Islamic calendar, so it moves about eleven days earlier each year.
In Pakistan, Ramadan 2026 began on 19 February after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee announced the sighting, which put the 10th of Ramadan on about 28 February. Astronomical forecasts point to 8 February 2027 as the likely first day of Ramadan next year, so the urs would be expected around 16 to 19 February 2027. Treat that as a working estimate until the moon is sighted and the shrine administration and local press confirm the dates.
Who was Shah Noorani?
Bilawal Shah Noorani is one of the most venerated Sufi saints of Balochistan. According to Wikipedia, he came here from Thatta around 1449, in the time of the Samma dynasty. Many urs devotees are from Sindh. Our guide to Lahoot Lamakan explains the legends of the nearby cave.
What happens at the urs
The urs combines devotion and a fair, much like the big shrine festivals of Sindh. Reports describe:
- Dhamaal, the ecstatic Sufi devotional dance performed to the beat of drums, which takes place in the evenings and draws the biggest gatherings
- Devotional singing, with singers, qasida reciters and noha reciters coming for the occasion
- Langar, free food distributed to pilgrims, which matters more than usual because most people are fasting
- A fair of stalls, temporary camps and vendors spreading through the valley
- Malakhro, the traditional Sindhi wrestling, which some accounts list among the attractions
Because it falls in Ramadan, most pilgrims are fasting by day, and activity builds towards iftar and the evening.
Dhamaal at Shah Noorani is not limited to the urs. When the shrine was bombed on 12 November 2016, an ordinary Saturday, Dawn reported that about 500 people had gathered for the evening dhamaal. If you know the dhamaal at Sehwan, the form will be familiar; our Sehwan dhamaal timing guide explains how it works there.
The pilgrims who walk from Sehwan
Many devotees from Sindh reach the urs on foot. Known as Lahootis, they set out from Sehwan Sharif a few days after the urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sha'ban, walking through the Kirthar mountains over 14 nights with fixed stops, according to Dawn. That walk is what links the two festivals.
This is a devotional journey with real hazards, not a trek for visitors. Our guide to the Lahooti pilgrimage from Sehwan to Lahoot covers the stages and the risks.
How to behave as a visitor
An urs is a religious occasion first. A few things help:
- Dress modestly. Loose clothes covering arms and legs for everyone; women should bring a dupatta or scarf for the shrine itself.
- Remove your shoes before entering the shrine and follow the arrangements for men and women.
- Respect the fast. If you are not fasting, eat and drink out of sight during daylight hours.
- Watch the dhamaal from the edge. Don't push into the circle, and don't film people in a trance up close.
- Ask before photographing individuals, and don't photograph women without permission.
- Follow instructions at the gates. Walk-through gates and searches are normal at the urs.
Carry few valuables and agree a meeting point with your group, because the crowd at the peak is dense.
Is it safe to attend the Shah Noorani urs?
This needs a plain answer. The shrine is in Balochistan, and the UK government advises against all travel to the whole of Balochistan. In November 2016 a suicide bombing during the evening dhamaal killed at least 52 people and injured more than 100; the Islamic State group claimed it. Since then, The Express Tribune has reported walk-through gates at the entry and exit points and police, Levies and private guards around the shrine during the urs.
Pakistani devotees still attend in very large numbers every year. If you are one of them, check local news and current police and Levies advice in the days before travelling, travel in daylight, and go with people who know the area. If you hold a foreign passport, your government's advice may say not to go at all, and travelling against it can void your travel insurance. Our Balochistan safety guide covers how to check conditions.
Who it suits
The urs suits devotees and travellers with a serious interest in Sufi practice who can handle heavy crowds, fasting-month conditions, security checks and a long drive into the hills. It does not suit a casual day out or families with small children.
To see dhamaal at a major urs that is easier to reach, consider the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar urs at Sehwan in Sindh. Our Sehwan urs guide covers it, and the experiences page lists other festivals across the country.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Shah Noorani urs in 2027?
It is expected around 16 to 19 February 2027, centred on the 10th of Ramadan. The exact dates depend on the sighting of the Ramadan moon, so confirm them nearer the time.
How many days does the Shah Noorani urs last?
Several days. The Express Tribune reported the 2019 urs running from 9 to 12 Ramazan.
Is dhamaal performed at Shah Noorani outside the urs?
Yes. Dhamaal is performed in the evenings at the shrine, and the 2016 attack happened during an ordinary evening dhamaal, not during the urs.
Do pilgrims really walk to Shah Noorani from Sehwan?
Yes. Lahooti pilgrims walk from Sehwan Sharif through the Kirthar mountains over 14 nights, leaving after the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar urs.
Can foreigners attend the Shah Noorani urs?
The UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan, which includes the shrine. Foreign visitors should check their own government's advice and their insurance before considering it.
