Pakistan, Sept. 28 -- My visit to Turbat in Balochistan was more than just a journey to another city. It gave me an opportunity to discover a community, its traditions, beliefs, and a way of life that I knew very little about before my visit.

It was in Turbat that I first heard about the Zikri community in any meaningful detail.

I had many questions.

Who are the Zikris? What do they believe? Why is Turbat so important to them? Why do thousands of people gather here every year? And why do people from different parts of Pakistan and Iran travel long distances to attend their annual gathering?

To find some answers, I met members of the Zikri community, sat with them, listened to their stories, and asked them questions about their faith, ...