Sant Yudhishtar Lal and Shadani Durbar

I have recently been watching a number of videos of Sant Yudhishtar Lal (Shadani durbar) on facebook during his annual visit to Sindh. Shadani durbar is one of the oldest durbar in Sindh originally located in the Upper Sindh area of Mirpur Mathelo taluka in Ghotki district. It is a 300 year told temple  established by Sant Shadaram Sahib in 1768. The family subsequently relocated to India in 1968 to Raipur ( currently the capital of the Indian state of Chhatisgarh) and have now a durbar both in Sindh as well as in Raipur. Sant Yudhishtar Sahib is the current " gaddisheel"  at the Durbar. 

Shadani Durbar, Hayat Pitafi, Tehsil Mirpur Mathelo, District Ghotki, Sindh (Pakistan)
Photo Courtesy : Internet

Shadani Durbar at Raipur, Chhatisgarh, India 
Pic Credit : The Hindu ( internet)

I first heard about Saeen sahib when I began reading about our heritage and culture a few years back. However, I only realised durbar's popularity when during 2018 state elections, the then Bhartiya Janta Party President, Mr. Amit Shah, paid a visit to Sant Sahib in Raipur. The attached link to a 2018 article published in " The Hindu" newspaper details about the increasing  relevance of Sindhis in political sphere in Chhatisgarh. Subsequently, I learned more about the durbar during my interactions with Dr Sunila Sewani whose family too hails from Mirpur Mathelo and are close followers of Durbar. 

https://www.thehindu.com/elections/chhattisgarh-assembly-elections-2018/the-ascent-of-sindhis-in-chattisgarh/article25509779.ece

Evey year, Saeen sahib along with 45-50 pilgrims travel to Sindh for a week long pilgrimage which includes visit to all major temples. I had never realized the popularity of Saeen sahib and the durbar in Sindh before I saw the live videos being relayed on his facebook page. Sahib's visit to Sindh seems to act as a unifying force for the rapidly declining Hindu Sindhi community. I had the pleasure of watching young kids dressed as Hindu gods and goddesses like Radha Krishna and Ram Seeta and performing to various Bhajan's in front of Saeen Sahib. It takes me back to my childhood when the 22 block kids used to arrange for a "jhanki" on Janmashtmi every year. It used to begin with finding a volunteer family who would allow us to use their alley ( "thada"  as we call it here) to set up the jhanki. This used to be followed by the boys bringing bricks and sand/geeli mitti from the nearby construction sites and the girls arranging for various idols that will be kept in the Jhanki. We then used to arrange for a small " jhoola" where krishna bhagwan would be kept. Everyone from the block used to come down in the evening to watch our Jhanki . Such lovely memories !

I end with the below youtube video from Saeenjan's visit to Sindh which highlights his and Darbaar's popularity. Our Saeenjun's play an important role in holding the community together and to keep reminding us about our rich heritage and culture.I pray to Lal Saeen to bless sahib with a long and healthy life. 

https://www.facebook.com/santyudhishterlalji/videos/874040056755758

Jai Jhuelal