About
the festival
Urs Fair is the largest Muslim fair held every year in India during the
first six days of 'Rajab', the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. A
unique picture of harmony and universal brotherhood, this festival
celebrated with great enthusiasm where 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).
The Urs begins with the hoisting of a white flag on the dargah by the
successor representative of Chishtis. It is done on the 25th of
Jamadi-ul-Akhir (sixth lunar month), along with the music. It is considered
that on the last day of the sixth month, the 'Jannati-Darwaza' (gateway of
heaven) is flung open early in the morning and so people cross this gate
seven times believing that they will be assured a place in heaven.
The splendid tomb of the Sufi saint Khawaja Moinuddin Chisti more popularly
known as Khawaja Saheb or Khawaja Sharif is located in the foot of a barren
hill in the city of Ajmer. It is customary to cover one’s head before
entering the Dargah with a headgear or a piece of cloth. The shrine is a
place of wish fulfillment for the devotees who pray with devout and pure
hearts. Offerings called nazrana are made at the Durgah which consists of
rose and jasmine flowers, sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense. Apart from
these the chadar, ghilaph and neema are also offered. But these are given to
the khadims inside the sanctum sanctorum who make offerings on behalf of the
devotees.
Major events of the
festival
Qawalis are sung in the praise of the saint.
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Duration : six days
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Time : Held each year during the first six days of 'Rajab',
the seventh month of the Islamic calendar
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Venue : Ajmer Sharif, Rajasthan
