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Ajmer...
The lakeside city of Ajmer is
located in central Rajasthan, and is held in great
reverence by devotees of all communities who call it
'Ajmer Sharif' (Holy Ajmer). It is here that the
mortal remains of the highly respected Sufi saint
Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti lie buried. The Khwaja
came from Persia and established the Chishtia order
of fakirs in India. He is popularly known as Gharib
Nawaz (protector of the poor) because he dedicated
his entire life to the service of mankind.
Taragarh, The giant fort stands guarding the
city. It has six gates. The Taragarh fort also has
Miran Saheb ki Dargha who was the governor of the
fort and laid down his life in an encounter. It
gives a panoramic view of the city situated in
Nagpahari of Aravalli ranges, this fort has immense
archaeological and historical importance.
Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra is a masterpiece of Indo
- Islamic architecture. As legend goes its was
constructed in two and a-half days (Adhi-Din). It is
a relic of an old mosque consisting of a quadrangle
with a front screen wall of seven pointed arches.
The distinct pillars and arched screen with its
ruined minarets make it a splendid architectural
masterpiece.
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Durgah in Ajmer ( Khwaja Sahib )
It is the landmark of Ajmer and one of the holiest
of Muslim shrines in the country. It has a secular
appeal and revered by people of all sect. Khwaja
Moin-ud-din Chisti, a Sufi saint from Persia made
this place his abode from 1192 till he died in 1236
AD. Mughal King Humayun completed the construction
of the shrine. The Dargah is approached through a
massive gate with silver doors built in several
stages. Emperor Akbar made an annual pilgrimage to
Ajmer.
Mughal Emperors Akbar
and Shah Zahan have built mosques in the complex.
The saint's tomb is in the centre of the second
courtyard and the actual tomb inside is surrounded
by a silver railing and partly by a marble screen.
The tomb is of marble and dome is gold plated. The
atmosphere inside the shrine is charged and
supernatural with burning of incense and offerings
of flowers mainly rose and sweets.
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As you enter the Dargah courtyard,
you see two massive 'degs' meaning cauldrons. Mughal
Emperors Akbar and Jahangir donated these cauldrons
originally but they have been replaced in the
nineteenth century. The larger cauldron can contain
as much as 4480 kgs of rice while the smaller one
contains 2240 kgs of rice.
The shrine comes alive
with activity when millions of devotees throng the
shrine during Urs fair. Urs is held on the seventh
lunar month according to Islamic calendar and is
variable according to the solar calendar. Sufis and
believer converge from all over India and abroad, as
it is believed that those visiting during Urs
receives special blessings of the saint.
It is compulsory that you cover
your head while inside the complex so remember to
carry a skullcap or a scarf. The skull-cap is on
sale in the colourful market just outside the Dargah.
It is also customary to make floral offerings mainly
of roses, incense sticks and sweets that are locally
available.
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Pushkar...
The most auspicious pilgrim centre
for a devout Hindu in India, Pushkar is an
immensely numinous place prescribing at least
one visit in a lifetime. There is a Brahma
Temple here dedicated to the creator of the
world Lord Brahma exclusively, behind which
there is also a temple of his consort Savitry.
Pushkar is also famous for its grand annual fair
presenting diverse things and exhibitions for
the interest of people in general.
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