| Dargah Saharif Ajmer |
| One of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country is 'Dargah Sharif' or 'Holy Dargah'. Revered by the Mughal rulers, it has touches of Humayun to Shah Jahan in its structural architecture. Visited by both Hindus and Muslims, the Dargah Sharif Ajmer is the burial place of the Muslim saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is visited by hoards of Muslims as well as pilgrims every year of other faiths. In the remembrance of Muslim saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti every year "Urs", his death anniversary is held here. When Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti was 114 years old, for six days to pray the saint locked himself in a room and left his mortal body in solitude. |
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| During "Urs" time of the year several thousand devotees throng to this place. Food is cooked in huge cauldrons and served to the devotees and the people serve the food while standing inside the scalding hot food in the cauldrons the surprising part. Emperor Akbar offered these cauldrons when he was blessed an heir for the throne by the saint. |
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| Not only from India, but from other countries also like Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc Urs event attracts pilgrims and lasts for three days. People or devotees doesn't leave with empty handed, if they visit the Dargah Sharif in Rajasthan is the belief. Every visitor wishes get fulfilled. 'Chaadar', 'ghilaph' and 'neema', are also offered by devotees which are votive offerings for the tomb. The devotees, whose wishes get fulfilled, offer chaddar at the Dargah as a gesture of thanks. Qawwals sing songs in praise of the saint. The pilgrims make rich offerings called 'nazrana' at the sacred spot where the saint has been entombed that include rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense that put in to the fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. |
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| The dargah was constructed over a period of time by number of Mughal rulers. The dargah is now grown to a huge complex housing several mosques, pavilions and gateways as in the past it was a simple tomb in which in the saint was buried. Leading up to the main inner courtyard Dargah bazaar is the entry to the dargah. Dargah silver doors are exquisitely carved. A silver railing and a partial marble screen is covering the grave of the saint and a separate prayer room for women is also present. |
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| Professional singers called 'qawwals' sit in groups and sing hymns in the praises of the saint in a characteristic high-pitched voice outside the holy place of the Dargah. |
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| To reach the dargah |
By air Jaipur 132 km is the nearest airport.
By rail Regular train services link Ajmer with important cities. Gujrat Mail (Mumbai-Ajmer-Delhi Sarai Rohilla); Jodhpur Mail (Marwar-Ajmer-Jaipur): Express (Ahmedabad-Ajmer-Jaipur);Shatabadi Express(New Delhi-Ajmer-New Delhi) are some of the important train connection.
By bus Ajmer city is well connected to other main cites al over India. A good network of bus services operate from Ajmer to key destinations around. And distance from Delhi is 395 kms, Jaipur is 132kms. |
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