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Rajasthan Fairs & Festivals
Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer
Urs Ajmer Sharif, Ajmer
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almost a hundred years and he embraced death in solitude while he had withdrawn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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