Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with a delegation from the Muslim community on Thursday, presenting them with a ceremonial ‘chadar’ to be placed at the revered Ajmer Sharif Dargah. The meeting was a significant part of the ongoing event commemorating the death anniversary of the esteemed Sufi saint, Moinuddin Chishti.
Sharing the memorable moment on the social platform X, formerly Twitter, Modi expressed, “Met a Muslim community delegation. During our interaction, I presented the sacred Chadar, which will be placed during the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at the esteemed Ajmer Sharif Dargah.”
The pictures shared by the Prime Minister captured the essence of the interaction, showcasing him presenting the ‘chadar’ to the delegation. Union Minister of Minority Affairs Smriti Irani and BJP’s minority morcha president Jamal Siddiqui also participated in the meeting, underscoring the inclusive nature of the event.
The 812th annual Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, which commenced on January 8, is a significant religious gathering drawing devotees from around the world. The Gori family from Bhilwara marked the initiation of the Urs by raising the flag on January 7, as reported by TOI.
With the upcoming festivities, the Khadims of Ajmer Sharif Dargah sent a letter to Prime Minister Modi, seeking his intervention to ensure the safety and security of individuals attending the Urs from January 13 to 21, as reported by The Siasat Daily.
Sarwar Chisty, the secretary of Anjuman Syed Zadgan, the representative body of Khadims of Ajmer Sharif Dargah, stated, “The 812th Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishty is commencing from 13th January, 2024, to 21st January, 2024, and people from all over the world irrespective of caste, creed, colour and religion will be visiting the shrine to celebrate the Urs.”
In the coming days, Kalandars from Delhi are expected to arrive in Ajmer to present their offerings at the dargah, continuing a longstanding tradition. A special train from the Atari border will bring a Pakistani delegation of devotees to Ajmer on January 14.
The formal Urs celebrations will commence with the moon sightings, and the ‘jannati darwaja’ will be unlocked for devotees. To accommodate the growing number of devotees, the dargah has been accessible throughout the day every day since Tuesday.