811th Urs of Khwaja Garib begins at Ajmer

 The 811th annual Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti began with flag hoisting in Ajmer, Rajasthan Thursday evening with a 21-gun salute and the flag-hoisting ceremony at the mausoleum of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty, the leading Sufi saint of Indian sub-continent.

The formal religious function will start as soon as the new moon of Rajab, the seventh month of the Islamic calendar is sighted on January 23.

The Flag hoisting was done by Fakhruddin Ghori of the Bhilwara family. The procession started from Garib Nawaz Guest House located at Dargah in Ajmer after the Urs prayers.

Drummers accompanied the procession and reached the dargah via the Nizam Gate from Langarkhana street.

Meanwhile, the Qawwali, a special genre of music devoted to Sufism, was also played at the dargah.

The devotees managed to break the barricade placed around the flag to kiss it in reverence of the Saint who is also called Gharib Nawaz (The benefactor of the poor).

Before the dargah was illuminated, the flag was hoisted over the 85-foot-high gate. The ceremony was attended by members of the Ghori family, Anjuman Syed Zadegan and Shekhzadegan officials, and members and representatives of the dargah committee.

Devotees thronged to have a glimpse of the flag. When a cannon was fired from the hill of Bade Pir Sahib, the devotees raised their hands in the service of the Prophet.

Devotees thronged Dargah Sharif, the nearby hotels, and rooftops to have a glimpse of the flag.

The security during the processions was tight.

District Collector Anshdeep and Superintendent of Police Chunaram Jat, and other officers kept a constant vigil.

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With the commencement of Urs, the timings of the service at the dargah have also changed. Instead of regular timing of 2.30 pm, the service will be held at 7 pm.