Dargah Khwaja Sahib
It
is the landmark of Ajmer and one of the holiest of Muslim shrines in the country.
It has a secular appeal and revered by people of all sect. Khwaja Moin-ud-din
Chisti, a Sufi saint from Persia made this place his abode from 1192 till he
died in 1236 AD. Mughal King Humayun completed the construction of the shrine.
The Dargah is approached through a massive gate with silver doors built in several
stages. Emperor Akbar made an annual pilgrimage to Ajmer.
Mughal Emperors Akbar and Shah Zahan have built mosques in the complex. The
saint's tomb is in the centre of the second courtyard and the actual tomb inside
is surrounded by a silver railing and partly by a marble screen. The tomb is
of marble and dome is gold plated. The atmosphere inside the shrine is charged
and supernatural with burning of incense and offerings of flowers mainly rose
and sweets.
As you enter the Dargah courtyard, you see two massive 'degs' meaning cauldrons.
Mughal Emperors Akbar and Jahangir donated these cauldrons originally but they
have been replaced in the nineteenth century. The larger cauldron can contain
as much as 4480 kgs of rice while the smaller one contains 2240 kgs of rice.
The shrine comes alive with activity when millions of devotees throng the shrine
during Urs fair. Urs is held on the seventh lunar month according to Islamic
calendar and is variable according to the solar calendar. Sufis and believer
converge from all over India and abroad, as it is believed that those visiting
during Urs receives special blessings of the saint.
It is compulsory that you cover your head while inside the complex so remember
to carry a skullcap or a scarf. The skull-cap is on sale in the colourful market
just outside the Dargah. It is also customary to make floral offerings mainly
of roses, incense sticks and sweets that are locally available.
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