RELIGION WITH LENS OF MYSTICISM AMID INHABITANTS OF DESERT: ASTUDY OF CHOLISTAN

Abstract

This current paper aims at exploring mysticism in the Cholistan desert which has dominantly semi-nomadic
culture. It also attempts to explore how mystic practices are helpful for people of Cholistan for coping with their
day-to-day problems. This qualitative study adopted ethnographic method and interviewed 50 participants from
Cholistan through protracted qualitative interview and participants observation. The data were analyzed through
content analysis technique. The findings revealed that people of Cholistan are more tilted towards devotional
practices of Islam than its orthodox version. Furthermore, people in Cholistan have strong belief in spiritual
power of the sufis and visit shrines for solution of their social, economic, physical, psychological and spiritual
problems. Since there are no formal ways (mosque and madarassah) of getting religious education about beliefs
and practices; that is why nearly all people were following devotional practices mainly introduced by two popular
sufi saints of Cholistan namely Khawaja Ghulam Farid and Chanan Pir. The study concludes that due to poor
access to basic amenities of life such as food, health, housing, education, drinking water and power supply in the
Cholistan, sufism and spirituality is serving as a strong psychological support for the helpless and severely
deprived people of Cholistan other than satisfying their religious sentiments.