Lahoot Lamakan
{{Short description|Cave in Balochistan, Pakistan}}
{{Infobox cave
| name = Lahoot Lamakan
| other_name = {{langx|ur|لاہوت لا مکاں}}
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| photo_caption = A view of cave at Lahoot La Makan.
| map = Pakistan Balochistan#Pakistan
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| location = Balochistan, Pakistan
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Lahoot Lamakan ({{langx|ur|{{URDU|لاہوت لا مکاں}}}}) is a sacred cave in Balochistan, Pakistan.{{Cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/398724/the-historical-beauty-of-balochistan/|title=The historical beauty of Balochistan|date=May 21, 2019}}
Shrine
Tuhfat al-Kiram — primarily, a chronicle of Sufis in Sindh by Mir Ali Sher Qaune Thattvi (c. mid-eighteenth century) — that one Bilawal Shah Noorani of Thatta was afflicted by divine frenzy, and had to leave the town in the late fifteenth century during the reign of Jam Nizamuddin II.{{cite web |last=Rashid |first=Salman |date=31 August 2012 |title=Tales from Lahoot valley - The Express Tribune |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/429158/tales-from-lahoot-valley/ |accessdate=2018-04-07 |publisher=Tribune.com.pk}} He ventured west of Thatta and ended up in the valley, usurping the orchards of one Gokal Seth.
The site draws thousands of Shia Muslim pilgrims every year, who take a fortnight-long pilgrimage to the valley, starting from the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar Sehwan and stopping by at small shrines (or stations) in the way.{{cite web |date=2016-11-13 |title=Khuzdar's Shah Bilawal Noorani shrine: A journey of devotion - Pakistan |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1296027 |accessdate=2018-04-07 |publisher=Dawn.Com}}{{Cite journal |last=Delage |first=Rémy |date=2016-07-01 |title=L'espace du pèlerinage comme « territoire circulatoire » : Sehwan Sharif sur les rives de l'Indus |url=https://journals.openedition.org/com/7863 |journal=Les Cahiers d'Outre-Mer. Revue de géographie de Bordeaux |language=fr |volume=LXIX |issue=274 |pages=77–102 |doi=10.4000/com.7863 |issn=0373-5834}}{{efn|These stops are in order: Lalbag in Sehwan; Shrine of Sain Ali Raza Shah in Jhangara; Panjtan Ja Chashma, a spring; Shrine in Naing Sharif; Baga Shir; Haoot Cave; Shah Ja Kanda; a spring at Noor Wahi; Chung Mountain; Har Mori; Mai Ji Kandri; Dargah Syed Bahlool Shah Dewano; Shinh Lak; Mosque at Khooi.}} However, the primary subject of veneration is not Shah Noorani but Ali, a cousin of Muhammad and the first Shia Imam. A footprint is alleged to be that of Ali, cast while he had dismounted from his horse to fight "Gokul Deo"; another footprint is attributed to the hoof of his horse.{{efn|Salman Rashid quips that the relationship of the two footprints were too askew to allow Ali from dismounting his horse!}} There is also a cave, where Shah Noorani had allegedly spent his last days; inside lies a stone which is argued to be the image of Ali's camel.{{efn|Local Hindus claim that the cave was a sacred site for Hindus before its incorporation into Sufi networks and the stone is actually a lingam. Jürgen Schaflechner finds the claims convincing, going by the shape of the stone.}}
Notes
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References
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External links
- [http://heat-and-dust.blogspot.com/2008/06/lahut-lamakan.html A blog chronicling the pilgrimage]
{{Commons Category|Lahoot Lamakan, Khuzdar}}
{{coord missing|Pakistan}}