On January 4, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hand over a ceremonial ‘chadar’ to the Union Minister for Minority Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, in a momentous event marking the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. This sacred chadar, which symbolizes devotion and respect, will be offered at the Mazar-e-Akdas, the revered shrine of the saint, as part of the ongoing 813th Urs celebrations.
The annual offering of the chadar is a long-standing tradition that Prime Minister Modi has consistently upheld since assuming office. This year marks the 11th occasion that the Prime Minister has sent a chadar to the shrine in an expression of religious harmony and respect. The offering of the chadar is considered a powerful form of worship and is believed to bring blessings upon those who partake in the ceremony.
The Urs commemorates the death anniversary of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, who is widely regarded as one of the most prominent Sufi saints in India. Each year, millions of devotees from across the country and beyond gather at the Dargah to pay their respects and seek blessings. The 813th Urs, which began on December 28, 2024, continues to be celebrated with great reverence and devotion.
Modi’s Tradition of Sending the ‘Chadar’ to Ajmer Sharif
Prime Minister Modi has been a part of this annual tradition for the past ten years, offering a chadar to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah as a symbolic gesture of peace and unity among the diverse communities in India. Last year, during the 812th Urs, the chadar was presented on Modi’s behalf by then Union Minister Smriti Irani, alongside BJP minority wing chief Jamal Siddiqui. The presentation of the chadar, along with a delegation of Muslim community leaders, served to reinforce the Prime Minister’s message of interfaith respect and national unity.
The sacred chadar is a symbol of profound devotion and is typically placed over the Mazar-e-Akdas, the tomb of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Offering the chadar is seen as a spiritual act of reverence, and it holds deep significance for those involved in the ritual. It is regarded as a means of seeking divine blessings and expressing gratitude for the saint’s contributions to spreading peace, love, and compassion throughout India and the world.
The Ajmer Sharif Dargah is one of the most revered Sufi shrines in India. Founded by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, the shrine attracts millions of pilgrims from various parts of the world, especially during the annual Urs. The Dargah is a place of spiritual significance, not just for Muslims, but for people of all faiths, who come to the shrine seeking divine blessings.
The Urs festival is marked by a variety of rituals, including the recitation of qawwalis, prayers, and the distribution of food, which exemplifies the unity of all religious communities. The event also highlights the tradition of Sufi mysticism, which emphasizes devotion to God, the importance of charity, and the practice of humility and peace.
The Controversy Surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah
Recently, however, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah has been at the center of a controversial debate. In November 2024, a local court in Rajasthan accepted a petition from the Hindu Sena, a Hindu nationalist organization, which claims that there is a Shiva temple beneath the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. The Hindu Sena’s petition has ignited a contentious dispute regarding the historical and religious significance of the site. The organization argues that the shrine, originally built to honor the Sufi saint, was constructed atop a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
In response to this, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah Committee, functioning under the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, filed a petition urging the dismissal of the case. The Committee claims that the allegations are baseless and that the shrine has long been a site of spiritual importance for millions of Muslims and people from other faiths.
The matter is set to be heard again on January 24, 2025, with the Ajmer Sharif Dargah Committee seeking to clarify the legal status of the shrine. This case is part of a larger, ongoing discussion over the Places of Worship Act, which has been challenged in the Supreme Court due to a series of controversial surveys conducted at mosques and dargahs across the country.
The legal issues surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah come at a time of growing concern over the Places of Worship Act. This Act, which was passed in 1991, prohibits the alteration of the religious character of any place of worship, preserving the status quo as it stood on August 15, 1947. The Act has been the subject of several legal challenges, especially following surveys of mosques, dargahs, and other religious sites in India.
On December 12, 2024, the Supreme Court of India intervened in the debate by issuing a temporary order restraining courts from admitting or passing any orders on new petitions seeking the survey of mosques to determine if temples lie beneath them. The Court’s decision to stay such actions comes as a precautionary measure amid growing tensions over the religious identity of certain historical sites.
Despite the ongoing controversies surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, the annual Urs and the offering of the chadar by Prime Minister Modi and other dignitaries continue to symbolize the deep spiritual significance of the shrine. For centuries, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah has been a place of peace, love, and interfaith harmony, where people from all walks of life come together to seek divine blessings. The recent events, while bringing attention to the legal complexities surrounding the site, do not diminish its significance as a symbol of spiritual unity in India.
As India continues to navigate the complexities of its multi-religious society, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah remains a beacon of spirituality and interfaith respect—values that are essential to the nation’s diverse cultural fabric.