Urs Ajmer Sharif  The
urs, acommomerative celebration is held in the solemn memory of Khwaja
Muin-nddin Chisti, a prighly respected sufi saint fondly revered as the
benefactor of the poor, popularly known as Gareeb Nawaz. |
The urs, acommomerative celebration is held in the solemn memory of Khwaja
Muin-nddin Chisti, a prighly respected sufi saint fondly revered as the
benefactor of the poor, popularly known as Gareeb Nawaz. The Dargah Sharif
in Ajmer, is the place where the Saints mortal remains lie burried and is
the site of the largest Muslim Fair in India.
Chadar; Ghilaph &
Neema which are votive offerings for the tomb are offered by several hundred
thousand devotees. Mehfils & Qawwalis are held and mass prayer calls for
the eternal peace of the mankind. An interesting ritual is the looting of
Kheer (Milk Pudding) which is cooked in two large cauldrons called Degs and
distributed to the devotees as tabarruk (blessed food).
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hundred years and he embraced death in solitude while he had withdrawn to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.
An interesting ritual is the looting of kheer (milk-pudding) which is cooked
in two large cauldrons called degs and distributed to the devotees as tabarruk
(blessed food).
On the 6th of Rajab, after the usual mehfil
and the sound of cracker-bursts accompanied by music, the Sajjada Nashin
performs the ghusal of the tomb. Fatiha and Salamti are read. A poetic
recitation called mushaira is arranged in which poets of all communities
arrive to recite compositions dedicated to the Khwaja. The Qul (end-all) on
the 6th of Rajab marks the end of the Urs.
At night, religious
assemblies called mehfils are held in the mehfil-khana, a large hall meant
for this purpose. These are presided over by the Sajjada Nashin of the
dargah.
Qawwalis are sung and the hall is packed to capacity.
There are separate places reserved for women who attend the mehfil. The
mehfil terminates late in the night with a mass prayer for the eternal peace
of the Khwaja in particular and mankind in general.
The Dargah
is located at the conjunction of three bazaars. There are a number of
restaurants around the Dargah where visitors can choose from a variety of
dishes most of which are non-vegetarian preparations. Guest houses on the
road leading to the Dargah offer accommodation that ranges from economical
to luxurious. Many other guest houses are strewn across the city. The shops
in the market around the Dargah sell flowers, prayer mats, rosaries,
textiles, and general merchandise as well.
Ajmer is 132 kms.
south-west of Jaipur and 198 kms. east of Jodhpur. It is connected by road
to Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur and Kota. Ajmer is a railway junction
on the Delhi-Ahmedabad section of the Western Railway. During the Urs,
special buses ply from cities all over India carrying people to Ajmer and
back.
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