Ajmer Sharif Dargah i.e. the tomb of Moinuddin Chishti is a holy place in India not only for Muslims but for people of every religion. Ajmer Sharif Dargah is located in Ajmer city of Rajasthan state of India, which has great recognition globally. It is said about Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti that he had many amazing powers, due to which even today people from far and wide come to his Dargah to pray.
It is said about Ajmer Sharif Dargah that whoever asks for anything here with a true heart, his prayers are definitely accepted. The Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is the most famous pilgrimage site of Rajasthan. Moinuddin Chishti was a great Sufi saint who dedicated his entire life to the upliftment of the poor and downtrodden. Due to the recognition of this Dargah, lakhs of people visit here every year. Today we will know about the history of Ajmer Sharif Dargah and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah being the tomb of poor Nawaz Moinuddin Chishti, it is a perfect symbol of harmony and spirituality. This place is ideal for those looking for peace. When Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti was 114 years old, he locked himself in this place for six days to pray and sacrificed his body, after which he was buried here and this holy Dargah was built. Hazrat Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti is also known as the founder of Islam in India and a great preacher of Islam throughout the world. Along with this, Hazrat Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti is also known for his great sermons and social work. He came to India from Persia and stayed in Lahore for some time and then settled in Ajmer city. He died in 1236, and since then people come to his grave to make wishes. It is believed that whoever prays at this Dargah with a true heart, his wish is definitely fulfilled.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah was built by the Mughals, so it is an excellent example of the rich Mughal style of architecture. The construction of Ajmer Dargah was started by Iltutmish and its construction was completed during the reign of Humayun. The main gate of Ajmer Sharif is called Nizam Gate because it was constructed in 1911 by Mir Osman Ali Khan, the then Nizam of Hyderabad State. After crossing this gate, you will cross the Shahjahani Darwaza built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. The Dargah is approached through a huge gate called Buland Darwaza. It was built by Sultan Mahmood Khilji, every year on the occasion of Urs, the Urs ceremony is started by hoisting the flag at this door. A domed chamber has been built over the tomb of the great Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti, with silver railings and marble screens. Every evening at Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Qawwalis are presented by famous Qawwals in the memory of Khwaja. There is a small market outside the Dargah from where all the pilgrims buy chadars. In Dargah Sharif you can also see Aulia Mosque, Dargah Shrine, Jama Masjid and Mehfilkhana.
The world’s largest vessel is present in the Dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, which is called Badi Degh. This big cauldron was gifted to the Dargah by Mughal Emperor Akbar on the fulfillment of his vow. In this big cauldron, 120 maunds i.e. forty-eight hundred kilos of rice are cooked simultaneously. Along with this, there is another similar cauldron which is known as Chhoti Deag, in which 60 maunds of rice are cooked at a time. The small cauldron was built by the Mughal emperor Jahangir and presented to this dargah. In the Dargah, near the Buland Darwaza, there is a big pan on one side and a small pan on the other side. Due to the arrival of people of all religions and castes at the Dargah, only vegetarian food i.e. sweet rice is cooked in these two cauldrons. Along with this, pilgrims also cook many other types of cauldrons in these cauldrons as per their faith and ability, but non-vegetarian food or garlic and onion are never used in them.
The ‘Urs’ festival is held here every year for six days in the seventh month of the Islamic lunar calendar after the repose of the body of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti. The main gate of the Dargah which remains closed at night is kept open day and night for 6 days during this festival. People who want to visit this holy Dargah can visit Ajmer during the Urs festival. The best time to visit Ajmer Sharif is from October to March. During this time, Urs fair is organized in the Dargah and the Dargah is beautifully decorated. Ajmer Dargah is open for pilgrims from 05:00 am to 10:00 pm in winter and from 4:00 am to 10:00 pm in summer.
To go to Ajmer Sharif Dargah, you can choose between air, train and road. The Dargah is located at a distance of 2 km from Ajmer city, which can be reached with the help of buses and cabs. The nearest airport to reach here by air is Sanganer Airport of Jaipur, located at a distance of about 135 kilometers. By Rail: The nearest railway station to reach here is Ajmer Junction Railway Station, located at a distance of about 1 kilometer. Along with this, to reach here by road, you can take a bus or cab from any part of the country.
