By Adil Akhzer, Agence India Press,
Ajmer-Rajasthan: Faith can move mountains. The unflinching faith of Kashmiri devotees’ in famous Khawja Mohidin Chisti Dargah at Ajmer is drawing a huge flock of devotees’ to the shrine.
Devotees from across the valley throng the shrine especially during the winter season every year. Agence India Press Correspondent, who visited the shrine, found a good chunk of devotees’ from different parts the valley in comparison to devotees’ from other parts of country. Interestingly, the visitors’ provide much-need boost to the business of hoteliers and others.
Over the years, the shrine of Khawja Mohidin Chisti one of the renowned Pir (Sufi) in the North-East India has become symbol of communal harmony. People of all shades of life including the foreign visitors visit Dargah to seek the Almighty’s blessings and to fulfill their wishes.
According to the officials here, on an average day, 25,000 to 30,000 devotees including foreign visitors visit the shrine. Around 15,000 devotees’ visited the shrine Sunday and thursday. Javid Ahmed, who visited Dargah along with his family all the way from Baramulla Kashmir, told Agence India Press, “Faith in Dargah brought me here. This is for first time that visited this shrine. It gave me peace of mind and eternal satisfaction,”
The shrine especially in the evening presents a magnificent view, as the air is redolent with the scent of roses. The air is rented with the recitation of ‘Qawaali’ in the evenings.
An official of Anjamun Auqaf Committee, when asked about number of Kashmiri visitors said, “We witness a huge number of people from Kashmir every year, which indicates their unflinching faith in Sufis (Pirs),”
Hoteliers and other feel happy for good business in view of huge rush to the shrine. Syed Sauaddin, a hotel owner told Agence India Press “Every year in this season, Ajmer witnesses a huge rush of Kashmiri people. Kashmiri visitors in more in number than others,” he said.
However, the flaws in management committee, which have a bearing on the income of the shrine, are evident here. To a question about the donations and earnings of the shrine, ironically no body from management committee could give exact figures.
What worsens’ the management of shrine is the fact that there is no government sponsored trust. It is only committe of khadims (locals management body), who are doing this highly responsible job. (AIP)