Last-minute preparations are on in full swing for the annual five-day Urs fair opposite the dargah of Risaldar Baba in Doranda from Thursday.

“This is the 212th edition of Urs mela that will be held from November 14 to 18. We are expecting about 5 lakh people cutting across all religions and faith to come to the fair from both within the state and beyond,” said Md Farooq, secretary of the dargah committee that organises Urs.

He said chief minister Raghubar Das was expected to visit the dargah on the evening of November 17 to offer a chadar and pay obeisance to Risaldar Baba.

Many believe that their wishes will be fulfilled if they offer chadar — floral, cotton or silk — at the dargah.

“As always, a langar, or community kitchen, will be set up to feed people on all five days,” Abdul Rauf Gaddi, chief of the dargah committee, said.

He said the dargah would be illuminated with decorative lights during Urs.

“The fair will have around 300 stalls offering toys, food, utensils and other household items. Stalls from Lucknow will offer specialities such as halwa and firni,” he informed.

Qwaali programmes will also be organised as part of the festival.

“Hamsar Hayat Nizami from Delhi and Danish Sabri from Mumbai will perform on the evening of November 17,” Gaddi said.

Urs began to be observed in Doranda in 1808 in the memory of Hazrat Qutubuddin Risaldar Baba Rahamatullah Alaih, popularly known as Risaldar Baba, a godly man who would pray under a tree for the well-being of people.

It is believed that the Baba came to Ranchi by the turn of the seventeenth century with a unit of the British Indian army of which he was a risaldar, a mid-level supervisor of the mounted troop.

A pious Muslim, he used to pray under a tree in a deserted place, and he became known for his piety and healing power.

After his death, a mazaar was built at the place and Urs began to be observed soon after.