AJMER-E-SHARIEF
Significance: Tomb of Muin-ud-Din Chishti
Celebrations: Six Day Annual Urs
The final resting place for 'Gharib-Nawaz', Moinuddin
Chishti is located in Ajmer. People of all religions visit the Dargah of
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The Khwaja left for heavenly abode in 1256 AD
after a six day prayer in seclusion. These six days are celebrated every
year as the annual Urs, which is attended by innumerable pilgrims
irrespective of their faith.
The shrine is considered to be a place of wish fulfillment for those who
pray with devout and pure hearts. It is said that Emperor Akbar sought
blessings for his son at the Dargah.
The entry to the Dargah is through the Dargah Bazar that leads to the
inner courtyard. The high gateway has beautifully carved silver doors. In
the courtyard are kept two huge cauldrons with capacity of 2240 kg and
4480 kg. On special occasions, 'Kheer' cooked in these cauldrons is
distributed among the pilgrims. The grave of the Sufi Saint is surrounded
by a silver railing and is partially covered with a marble screen. The
daughter of Shah Jahan had built a prayer room in the Dargah for the women
devotees. The premises of the Dargah also has the tomb of Bhishti, tomb of
Saint's daughter-Bibi Hafiz Jama, tomb of Shah Jahan's daughter Chimni
Begum.
