By: R Niranjan Das

The namaz (prayer time) was over and the road which until that moment was filled with communities featuring prayers, eased up a little. I even now had to rub shoulders and make my way through the crowded road that led to the shrine. I went past many shops and stalls selling myriad items such as flowers, caps, fabrics, snacks, sweets, tea etc. A waft of the fresh flowers and incense sticks from the shops took me further ahead to the entrance of Dargah Sharif in Ajmer. When I visited the Dargah as a curious traveller, communities around me were there due to their faith in Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.

The town of Ajmer in Rajasthan was earlier regarded as Ajayameru over the rule of Prithviraj Chauhan. In the 12th century he was defeated by Muhammad Ghori, who took over the part of the country. Ajmer later came under the Mughal rule of Akbar in the 16th century. Despite its history and rulers, Ajmer has for long been well-liked for Dargah Sharif, which is the resting place of Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti, a sufi saint from the 12th century. additionally called Hazrat Khwaja Garib Nawaz (refers to helper of the poor), the saint was a well-liked figure in the world of Sufism and was a well travelled preacher. He was a follower of a Chishti saint and came to Ajmer in late 12th century. The revered saint had many followers including the Mughal emperors. His death anniversary is celebrated as 'Urs', and pilgrims throng the Dargah to pay obeisance at the grave of Khwaja Moinudeen Chishti over that time.