The annual Urs Mubarak celebration is under way at the Darbar Unique Centre in Fenton.
Usually, there are hundreds of bright glittering silken flags, almost tinselly in their shininess, covered in quotations from the Qu'ran and coloured green, the colour of Islam. This year, I'm told, most of the pennants are made of plastic, because the silken flags get ruined in our weather - albeit it's summer...
Orthodox Muslims aren't sure what to make of the holy man, the Pir (saint) Pandariman, who is at the centre of these celebrations, and who lives here. Sure enough, he attracts thousands of devotees, but he's in the Sufi-mystic tradition of Islam, which is a bit way-out for a lot of local Muslims.
Link - BBC: The Saint of Fenton / Darbar Unique centre
