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Ajmer Festivals
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URS FAIR
(Twice a Year)
The Khwaja came from Persia and established the Chishtia
order of fakirs in India. He is popularly known as Gharib
Nawaz (protector of the poor) because he dedicated his
entire life to the service of mankind. The lakeside city of
Ajmer is located in central Rajasthan, and is held in great
reverence by devotees of all communities who call it 'Ajmer
Sharif' (Holy Ajmer). It is here that the mortal remains of
the highly respected Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti
lie buried.
His spartan life spanned almost a hundred years and he
embraced death in solitude while he had withdrawn to his
cell for six days, asking not to be disturbed. The Dargah
Sharif in Ajmer is the place where the Saint's mortal
remains lie buried and is the site of the largest Muslim
fair in India. More than five lakh devotees belonging to
different communities gather from all parts of the
subcontinent to pay homage to the Khwaja on his Urs (death
anniversary) during the first six days of Rajab (seventh
month of the Islamic calendar.)
The pilgrims who come to seek the blessings of the Khwaja
make rich offerings called nazrana at the holy spot where
the saint has been entombed. The offerings of rose and
jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense
contribute to the fragrance that floats in the air inside
the shrine. Also offered by devotees are the chadar, ghilaph
and neema, which are votive offerings for the tomb.
These are brought by devotees on their heads and handed over
to the khadims inside the sanctum sanctorum. Outside the
sanctum sanctorum of the dargah, professional singers called
qawwals in groups and sing the praises of the saint in a
characteristic high pitched voice. People gather around them
and listen attentively, sometimes clapping to the rhythm of
their instruments.
The Urs is initiated with the hoisting of a white flag on
the dargah by the Sajjada Nashin (successor representative)
of Chishtis. It is done on the 25th of Jamadi-ul-Akhir
(sixth lunar month), with the accompaniment of music. On the
last day of the sixth month, the Jannati-Darwaza (gateway of
heaven) is flung open early in the morning. People cross
this gate seven times with the belief that they will be
assured a place in heaven. On the 1st of Rajab, the tomb is
washed with rose water and sandalwood paste and anointed
with perfumes. This ritual is called ghusal. The tomb is
then covered with an embroidered silk cloth by the Sajjada
Nashin. |
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Tel: 91-11-44112200
Fax: 91-11-23721731
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