Ajmer: City of Prayer Fulfillment

If you are with a desire of glancing at the religious integrity and the true secular face of India, No place will even think of, to compete with Ajmer in this aspect. During the Urs [Annually from First to sixth day of Islamic month of Rajab] of Hazarat Khawaja Muinuddin Chisti, not only Muslims but people from all religions can be seen here busy in praying for their well being. For the Muslims Dargah here is next to Macca Madina, Who is unable to go there for Haz, is visiting this place as their pilgrimage. Ajmer is also important religious place of Hindus, as tirthraj Pushkar is just 11 km. away from the city. During the month of Kartik [October – November] people are visiting the place to have a bath at Pushkar lake. City is also famous for the Mayo College [founded in 1870] one of the oldest colleges in India. Maharaja of Alwar was among the first students of college.

City with present population of just over five lakhs was established by the Raja Ajay Pal of Chouhan Dynasty some time in the seventh century. In the 1193 A.D. city went under the Muslim rulers, when Prithaviraj Chouhan was defeated by the Mohmad Ghauri. After the Independence, when people of Sindhi community were forced to migrate to India, many of them preferred this city as their residential place, hence a considerable number of Sindhi people are making this city among the few cities of India with a dense population of Sindhis. Major spoken languages of city are Rajasthani, Hindi, Sindhi, Urdu and English.

Pushkar Fair and lake

Beside the annual urs of Khwaja Sahib, Ajmer city is also famous for Pushkar Mella. It is also an annual celebration and star attraction is the race of camel – cart. This is arranged on the Full Moon day of Hindu month Kartik. Pushkar Lake is with about 52 Ghats. According to purans Lord Vishnu, in the form of boar has visited this lake. Another episode says that Brahma with Lord Mahadev and Lord Vishnu has taken bath here for performing Yagya. One Ghat is also named as Gandhi Ghat in the memory of Mahatma Gandhi. It is common faith that water of this lake is capable of providing salivation. This is a common custom there, people on pilgrimage are floating lighted candle on the plates made from the leaves in the east direction.

Dargah and Urs

Khawaja Muin-ud-ddin Chisti came here from the Persia and was sufi saint. He was so helpful to poor that was named as Garib Nawaz. Due to his “living holy spirit” city is also called as Ajmer Sharif. It is common saying here
KHAWAJA KE DAR SE NA KOI KHALI HATH LOTA
AAYA JO BHI YAHAN PURIKAR MURADEN LOTA

Main attraction of the Dargah is the tomb of Khawa Saheb. Among the two buland darwaja, the one which is on north side was build by the Hyderabad Deccan Nizam Usman Ali Khan [1915] where as other by the Mandoo Sultan Ghyasudin Khilji. There are two huge Naggara, it is said that King Akbar was used to visit here annually and before going to Bengal prayed for the victory, after conquering Bengal he gifted these Naggaras.

During the urs , devotees offer Chadar, Ghilap and Neema at the Majar of Darvesh. It is fact, those singers who get chance to sing Kawali during this celebration are considered lucky and blessed one. Writers are making there most possible efforts for giving their best creation for the same.

Other Places to Visit

Shahjhan’s Mosque
Adhai-din-ka-jhonpra
Taragarh Fort
Mayo College
Man Mahal

The most suitable time for visiting Ajmer is from October to March. The Nearest Air port is Jaipur; Trains from almost all major cities are available for the city. While your visit to city do remember to taste the faous Ajmeri Chat and Khadi Kachori.

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