Urs Fair - Ajmer
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.
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.
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solitude while he had withdrawn to his cell for six days, asking not to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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