America
With Love from Obama, a 'Chadar' for Ajmer Sharif
By
Quaid NajmiMumbai, April 18
The 803rd Urs (annual feast)
celebrations of the revered saint Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisty
of Ajmer, starting Monday, will be momentous affair this year - thanks
to US President Barack Obama.
A red coloured, richly embroidered
'chadar' (holy cloth) will be offered on Obama's behalf at the mausoleum
of the Garib Nawaz on the inaugural day of the weeklong urs, Haji Syed
Salman Chishty, director of Ajmer's Chishty Foundation, told IANS.
The
'chadar' was solemnly handed over to Haji Chishty "on behalf of the US
government and Obama By US ambassador Richard Verma, deputy chief of
mission Micheal Pelletier and other officials on Friday morning, with a
request to present it at the Ajmer Dargah Sharif.
"It's a
historic day and a welcome moment. It's the first gesture of extending
spiritual greetings of peace to the Ajmer Dargah Sharif from a non-South
Asian country's head of state," a pleased Haji Chishty, the 27th
descendant of the saint, said while on a visit here for a function.
He
explained that such 'chadars' and offerings are received with much
respect and grace from presidents or prime ministers and other top
leaders of several South Asian countries, including regulars like
Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
"This is the first time that any
non-South Asian country's head has sent a 'chadar' to the Ajmer Dargah
Sharif. It will set a new trend for global peace among communities,"
Haji Chishty said, adding the 'chadar' from the US President will be
offered at the mausoleum at 11 a.m. on Monday.
The 32-year old
Haji Chishty, who is engaged in practical research on Sufi traditions
and their impact on different cultures and traditions, has lectured
around the world on the topic and recently went on a journey of
exploration of Iran which he has preserved in the form of a
photo-feature exhibited in Mumbai last month.
Haji Chishty
arrived from the US where he attended an international Sufi conference
and spoke at the United Nations as well as visited Washington and
Harvard Univeristy in Boston, earlier this month.
"The underlying
message is to promote spiritualism through harmony, peace and love for
all, which was represented by the 11th century saint, Sultan-ul-Hind,
Gharib Nawaz Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty of Ajmer Sharif,"
Haji Chishty said.
The annual urs were launched Wednesday with
the flag hoisting on the Ajmer Dargah Sharif after the evening prayers,
with the entire Dargah complex decorated and glittering in colourful
lights.
On Monday, which coincides with the 1st day of Rajab, the
seventh month of the Islamic calendar, the urs officially starts with
the 'mehfil-e-sama' in the Dargah Sharif.
There are various
events lined up during the period with April 25 the main day of the urs
and April 28 the concluding day, when the entire Dargah Sharif will be
washed by devotees.
Moinuddin Chishty (1141-1236), who hailed
from Sistan region of eastern Iran, travelled to India and introduced
and established the 'Chishti' Order of Sufism at Ajmer.
It was
mainly after emperor Akbar, who undertook a journey on foot from Agra to
Ajmer during his reign that the Dargah emerged as one of the most
important pilgrimage centres in India, which is revered by people of all
religions.
Over the past eight centuries, it has been a
favourite of several rulers, kings, emperors and in recent years,
several leaders from Pakistan and other countries have visited the Ajmer
Dargah Sharif to pay their respects.