Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Ajmer Dargah, Ajmer Sharif or Dargah Sharif is a Sufi shrine (Dargah) of Sufi saint, Moinuddin Chishti located in Ajmer at a distance of 2. 6 km (12 minutes) from the city centre. It is within the city limits.
The dargah (shrine) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is an international wakf (endowment), managed under The Dargah Khwaja Saheb Act, 1955 of Government of India. It is believed that a person, who prays with a pure heart at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, gets all his or her wishes fulfilled. Ajmer Sharif is a Sufi shrine and one of the most visited places in Ajmer. The pious Persian Sufi saint, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti who is well-known for its secular preaching is enshrined here. Many Muslims believe that Moinuddin Chisti was Muhammad's direct descendant and it was on his request (Muhammad came to his dream) he went to India. His shrine was built by Mughal Emperor Humayun, and in order to enter the dargah, you need to go through a series of massive doors made from silver with beautiful carvings. Akbar and his queen used to come to this Dargah by foot on pilgrimage from Agra every year in observance of a vow when he prayed for a son.
The large pillars called "Kose ('Mile') Minar", erected at intervals of two miles (3 km) along the entire way between Agra and Ajmer mark the places where the royal pilgrims halted every day. It has been estimated that around 150,000 pilgrims visit the site every day. The main gate to the shrine is the Nizam Gate, followed by the Shahjahani Gate, erected by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. In turn it is followed by the Buland Darwaza, built by Sultan Mahmood Khilji, upon which the urs flag is hoisted, marking the beginning of the death anniversary rituals. The urs for Moinuddin Chishti is celebrated every year on the 6th and 7th of Rajab.
The Dargah consists of Jahalra which was once the main source of water during the reign of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty. Even at present, water from the Jahalra is used for all the rituals performed inside the dargah. Namaaz takes place every day after which qawwalis (traditional Sufi songs) are sung by devotional singers inside Ajmer Sharif's hall, the Mehfil-e-Sama. The tomb of Nizam Sikka an ordinary subject who saved Mughal Emperor Humayun's life can also be found at a dargah as a tribute to his bravery. Another ritual at the dargah is that every day, fifteen minutes prior to the evening prayers, the dargah workers place candles inside the lamps and recite Persian verses with the company of rhythmic drumbeats in the background. After the recital of the verses the lamps are lit in the four corners of the tomb. This is the lighting ceremony (Roshnee). Placed on the west wing of the shrine one can find the Jannati Darwaza (Gateway to Heaven) which is a beautiful gate with silver carvings. It is opened only four times a year, during the annual festival of Urs, twice on Eid and also during the Urs of Khwaja Saheb's Pir.
One of the main events at the Dargah Sharif is the celebration of urs. Devotees from all over the world offer money, food, clothes, and jewels in Badi Deg during Urs of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer. The Urs festival is an annual festival held at Ajmer which commemorates the death anniversary of the Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, (founder of the Chishtiya Sufi order in India). It is held over six days and features night-long dhikr/zikr qawwali singing. Thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine from all over India and abroad. The sixth day of the Urs is regarded as the most special and auspicious.
The Dargah is open all days of a week during timings 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM. There is no entrance fee required to visit Dargah Sharif. Thus the Dargah drives in a major population each year due to the mausoleum (the sanctum sanctorum) bearing the tomb of the saint, specimens of Mughal architecture like tombs, courtyards and other majestic buildings and the colourful chadders threaded with gold and silver offered by kalanders from Mehrauli.