ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The annual religious ceremonies at the tomb of great Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi Mashhadi, more known as Bari Imam, were in continuation in Nurpur Shahan, Islamabad, on Wednesday with spiritual zeal and fervour.

Thousands of devotees of Bari Imam have already camped in and around his shrine situated at the foothills of Margalla near Prime Minister's House to take part in the five-day event which began on Sunday and will end on Thursday.

The ceremonies attract over a million people from around the country every year who come here to pay homage to great services of Bari Imam for Islam, peace and humanity beyond any religious boundary.

Many of them came here walking barefooted from miles' distance while others are coming on buses, cars, horsebacks and by air.

Syed Abdul Latif Shah Kazmi Mashhadi, more known as Bari Imam, was born in 1026 Hijri (1617 AD) in village Choli Karsal at District Chakwal. Bari's father, Syed Mehmood Hussain Shah Kazmi was himself a religious scholar.

Syed Mehmood Hussain Shah was also widely respected for being educated from prestigious institutions of Iraq in good old days.

In the later years of his life, Syed Abdul Latif Shah moved to village Bagh Kalan in Islamabad along with rest of his family, a place that presently holds Aabpara, the commercial heartland of modern Islamabad.

Later, he moved to a nearing village Chorpur (City of Thieves) which later became Nurpur (city of Light) as a result of the mysticism and great services of Saint who spent most of his remaining life in this area.

After spending some years in Nurpur, Shah Latif travelled to Ghur Ghushti (Attock) to learn Fiqah, Hadith, logic, mathematics, medicine and other disciplines. The academic institutions of Ghur Ghushti at that time were great seats learning.

In the following years, Shah Latif also visited several other places, including Kashmir, Badaksahn, Bukhara, Mashhad and Damascus in a bid to enhance his knowledge and satiate his love for Islam.

On completing his education, Shah Latif went to Saudi Arabia for performing Haj at quite a young age.

When he came back after Haj, Shah Latif got attached with Hayat-Al-Mir or Zinda Pir (the eternal guide) for further guidance on spiritual lines.

A particular school of belief considers Hayat-al-Mir as a version of eternal living Prophet of Allah, Hazrat Khizar (Peace be Upon Him).

It was Hayat-Al-Mir who conferred the title of Bari Imam on Shah Abdul Latif and instructed him to teach Islam, peace and tranquillity among the people of all religions and beliefs.

During his teachings to mankind in the vicinity in the later years, Bari Imam converted thousands of non-Muslims, especially Hindus, to Islam and turned the City of Thieves into City of Light.

In recognition of his great knowledge and wisdom, Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir himself came to pay respect and regards to Bari Imam after he heard a lot about the great Saint.