Date:28/06/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/06/28/stories/2009062857480500.htm

Other States - Rajasthan

304 Pakistanis arrive for Urs

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister Gehlot offers ‘chadar’ on behalf of Sonia

JAIPUR: A delegation of 304 Pakistani pilgrims arrived in Ajmer on Saturday to take part in the ongoing 797th Urs of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at the historic dargah in the city. The contingent travelled by a special train from Atari at the India-Pakistan border to Ajmer via Delhi.

The district administration has made arrangements for the Pakistani pilgrims’ stay at the Central Girls’ School in Purani Mandi, one km from the shrine. According to official sources, the group – led by retired bank officer Rashid Ali – will leave Ajmer on July 4.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot offered a velvet “chadar” on behalf of Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the mausoleum of the 13th Century Sufi saint. Abdul Ghani Gurdezi, a ‘Khadim’ (worker) of the dargah, conducted ‘ziarat’ for Mr. Gehlot and others accompanying him.

Mr. Gehlot read out a message from Ms. Gandhi praising the syncretic tradition of Urs through which people with diverse social and religious backgrounds find a “common ground for moral and spiritual unity”.

Union Ministers C. P. Joshi and Mukul Vasnik, Ministers of State Salman Khurshid, Namonarain Meena and Sachin Pilot and Rajya Sabha member Prabha Thakur were present on the occasion. Dargah Nazim Ahmed Raza conducted “dastarbandi” of the visitors.

Mr. Gehlot later reviewed the Urs arrangements at an official meeting in the town and instructed the district officers to take care of pilgrims and remain alert on the security front.

“The Ajmer dargah is a major centre of pilgrimage drawing devotees from several countries. Proper arrangements should be made for them throughout the year,” he said.

Official sources said a “chadar” on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would be offered at the dargah on Sunday.

The Urs began on June 19 with a flag-hoisting ceremony at Buland Darwaza in the dargah. The markets and streets in the town are full of pilgrims who are paying homage at the tomb and attending “mehfils” and Qawwalis. Over 1-lakh devotees offered “Juma” prayers at the shrine on Friday.

The Railways are running special trains from important places for Ajmer and have augmented the existing trains to clear the extra rush of passenger traffic. While 16-pair special trains have been pressed into service, about 30 extra coaches have been added to trains.