Lagatar24 Desk
Ajmer: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will send a ceremonial ‘chadar’ to the revered Ajmer Sharif Dargah on Thursday, continuing his yearly tradition of offering during the Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The offering comes amid the ongoing legal controversy over claims of a Shiva temple existing beneath the shrine.
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and BJP Minority Morcha President Jamal Siddiqui will receive the ‘chadar’ at 6 PM and offer it at the shrine on the Prime Minister’s behalf. This marks the 11th year of Modi participating in this tradition since becoming Prime Minister.
Last year, Union Minister Smriti Irani presented the ‘chadar’ along with Jamal Siddiqui and a Muslim delegation during the 812th Urs.
Shiva Temple Controversy
The offering coincides with the legal dispute surrounding the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. On November 27, 2024, a Rajasthan court accepted a Hindu Sena petition claiming that the dargah is built over a Shiva temple. A notice was issued to three parties in this regard.
On December 20, the Ajmer Sharif Dargah Committee submitted a five-page application to dismiss the petition. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for January 24, 2025.
Significance of the Urs Festival
The ongoing 813th Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, which began on December 28, attracts millions of devotees annually. Offering a ‘chadar’ at the shrine during this time is considered an act of great devotion, believed to bring blessings and fulfill vows.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah, one of India’s most revered Sufi shrines, continues to be a symbol of unity and devotion, drawing people from across the country and beyond to honor the legacy of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
