Dargah Sharif’ or ‘Holy Dargah’ is one of the most sacred Muslim shrines in the country. Venerated by both Hindus and Muslims, it is the tomb of Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint who came from Persia and devoted his life to the service and upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. The Dargah has a massive gate with silver doors built in several stages. Revered by the Mughal rulers, it has touches of Humayun to Shah Jahan in its structural architecture. A silver railing and a marble screen surround the actual tomb of the saint, made of marble with a gold plated dome.
History :
Ajmer is venerated as a holy place for both Hindus and Muslims. It has the mausoleum of the Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, whose blessings are eagerly sought by pilgrims to his dargah. Known as the ‘Dargah Sharif’, the last resting place of the saint who died in 1235 lies at the foot of a barren hill. The saint’s marble domed mausoleum is India’s most important shrine for Muslims and receives an endless flow of visitors of all religions as the sick, the troubled and the childless come here seeking a boon, a blessing or just peace of mind. Legend has it that the Mughal emperor, Akbar came here to the saint in the 16th century in quest of a boon for an heir and the saint obliged.
The Urs or annual pilgrimage of the devout is celebrated each May at the Dargah with millions of pilgrims arriving in Ajmer to pay homage. Lengthy queues of several kilometres snake their way past the tomb at the shrine while outside the Dargah precincts, two massive cauldrons cook sweet rice garnished with dry fruits and condiments to be served as ‘tabarukh’ or sanctified food. Within the dargah lies a mosque, built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Like all of Shah Jahan’s buildings, the mosque too, is an architectural marvel – a magnificent building in white marble with a long and narrow courtyard for the faithful to pray in, richly embellished with ornate calligraphic inscriptions, delicate carvings and detailed trelliswork.
Architecture and Attraction of Dargah Sharif :
As you enter the courtyard, the mosque, constructed by Akbar, is on the right. In the inner court there is another mosque built by Shah Jahan. Constructed of white marble, it has 11 arches and a Persian inscription running the full length of the building.
The saint’s tomb is in the center of the second court. It has a marble dome and actual tomb inside is surrounded by a silver platform. The horse shoes nail to the shrine doors are offerings from successful horse dealers.
The Dargah has a massive gate with silver doors built in several stages. Revered by the Mughal rulers, it has touches of Humayun to Shah Jahan in its structural architecture. A silver railing and a marble screen surround the actual tomb of the saint, made of marble with a gold plated dome.
Two massive cauldrons with capacity of 2240 kg and 4480 kg are used to cook Kheer on special occasion, to be served to the pilgrims. There is a separate prayer room for women. It was constructed by Chimni Begum, the daughter of Shah Jahan. Her tomb is on the premises of the Dargah. The premises of the Dargah also have the tomb of Bhishti and of the saint’s daughter-Bibi Hafiz Jama.
Rituals and Ceremonies at the Dargah Sharif :
Upon arriving at the shrine, one has to make the entry from the Dargah Bazaar. This would lead to the first courtyard. There is a mosque built by Emperor Akbar in this courtyard. There are also present two cauldrons or degs, where donations could be made. All these donations would later go to the needy. Khwaja’s tomb is in the second courtyard. Positioned in the center, it is situated in the second court. The tomb is a domed marble chamber, surrounded by silver railings. Devotees visit Ajmer Sharif to be blessed by the Khwaja. When their prayers are answered, their wishes fulfilled, they come again to offer the promised gilaf (velvet cloth), ittar (perfume), etc. Besides these offerings, they also recite the holy Qur’an, nafal namaz, milad and aayat-e-karima and khatam khawajgan.
A typical day at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah would comprise of the following rituals:
Khidmat : Khidmat is the cleaning of the mazar and offering fresh flowers to it. The ceremony is performed twice a day. In the early morning at 4.00 a.m., the main entrance of the tomb is opened with the call of azan. It is performed for about half an hour before the fajar prayer. Only khadims are allowed to perform the khidmat. The same ritual is performed at 3 p.m., though somewhat differently.
At this auspicious time, all the pilgrims are allowed inside except the ladies. Along with the offering of flowers, the khadims recite fateha and offer sandalwood, which is later distributed among the pilgrims.
Lighting (Roshni) : As the name suggests, this rite takes place in the evening. The khadim brings candles inside the tomb accompanied by the beating of drums. Then he places the candles in lamps and recites some sacred verses. Finally, the lamps that are placed in the four corners of the tomb are lighted.
Karka : The closing ceremony of the tomb is known as karka. It takes place an hour after the isha prayer. The custom is that 20 minutes before closing the door, as the fifth part of the night passes, a person calls to ring five and the clock sounds five times. The devotees present inside the tomb are asked to leave and three khadims clean and sweep the tomb. When the bell rings six times, the qawwals sing a special karka song. The doorways of the tomb are closed after the ceremony.
Langar : The dargah has a special daily ceremony called the langar in which devotees are served wheat porridge cooked in a special grass. It is said that the same porridge was eaten by the Khwaja himself. Even emperor Akbar used to stand in queue to take the langar along with other commoners. Devotees can go for the langar after commencing the isha prayer.
Sama (Qawwali) : Qawwali is an integral part of the rituals here. A qawwali is a song in the praise of Allah. They are sung by the qawwals (devotional singer) at the Mehfil-e-Sama in front of the mazar after the fajar namaz, magrib namaz, and isha namaz are over
Qur’an Recital
Other Attractions of Dargah Sharif Ajmer :
Shahjahan’s Mosque : The splendid mosque is present in the corner of the inner court of the dargah. It is a resplendent building in white marble with a long and narrow court. It has a low arcade and delicate carvings with trelliswork. Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra
Just beyond the dargah is located the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra, a wonderful masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture. As the name suggests, it was built within two and a half days.
Taragarh Fort : The legendary Taragarh Fort is reached after a one-and-a-half-hour climb beyond the Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra. The fort offers a scenic view of the entire city.
The Museum : The museum was once the royal residence of Akbar. It houses an exquisite store of Mughal and Rajput armor and fine sculptures.
Best Time to Visit the Dargah Sharif of Ajmer :
The best time to visit the Dargah is during the annual Urs of Moinuddin Chishti in May. If you’re unable to make it for the Urs, time your visit for the winter instead- summer all across Rajasthan means hot, dry weather which can take some getting used to. Winters are much more pleasant and comfortable.
How to Get There :
Air : The nearest airport is that of Jaipur.
Rail : The city is well connected by trains with all the major places in India.
Road : The state transport has its bus services from all over Rajasthan and also from Delhi. However, during the Urs, large number of people arriving in Ajmer, it is advisable to plan your trip in advance during this time.
Local Transport : City bus service operate in the city and to Pushkar. Unmetered taxis, auto-rickshaws, tongas, and cycle-rickshaws are also available for commutation.
Location : Ajmer
Dedicated to : Muslim saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti
Tourist Attractions: Ajmer-e-Sharief Dargah, Adhai-Din-Ka Jhonpara.
Festive Attractions: Urs Fair, Pushkar Fair