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14 January is celebrated in
India as Makar Sankranti - heralding the transition of the sun
into the Northern hemisphere.
In Jaipur Kites virtually blot out the sky. Everyone joins in
this riotous celebration and shouts of " Woh Kata Hai !"
reverberate from rooftops to the accompaniment of drums as
adversary's kites are cut down. And everyone's an adversary! Any
kite in the sky is fair game !
Its been five years that this Desert Kite Festival is held. Kite
makers flaunt kites sized as big as 1.5km of various shapes and
Designs. The colours that flaunt in the blue sky mesmerises the
viewers.
The lakeside city of Ajmer
is located in central Rajasthan, and is held in great reverence
by devotees of all communities who call it 'Ajmer Sharif' (Holy
Ajmer). It is here that the mortal remains of the highly
respected Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti lie buried.
The Khwaja came from Persia and established the Chishtia order of
fakirs in India. He is popularly known as Gharib Nawaz (protector
of the poor) because he dedicated his entire life to the service
of mankind. His spartan life spanned almost a hundred years and
he embraced death in solitude while he had withdrawn to his cell
for six days, asking not to be disturbed. The Dargah Sharif in
Ajmer is the place where the Saint's mortal remains lie buried
and is the site of the largest Muslim fair in India. More than
five lakh devotees belonging to different communities gather from
all parts of the subcontinent to pay homage to the Khwaja on his
Urs (death anniversary) during the first six days of Rajab
(seventh month of the Islamic calendar.)
The pilgrims who come to seek the blessings of the Khwaja make
rich offerings called nazrana at the holy spot where the saint
has been entombed. The offerings of rose and jasmine flowers,
sandalwood paste, perfumes and incense contribute to the
fragrance that floats in the air inside the shrine. Also offered
by devotees are the chadar, ghilaph and neema, which are votive
offerings for the tomb. These are brought by devotees on their
heads and handed over to the khadims inside the sanctum
sanctorum. Outside the sanctum sanctorum of the dargah,
professional singers called qawwals in groups and sing the
praises of the saint in a characteristic high pitched voice.
People gather around them and listen attentively, sometimes
clapping to the rhythm of their instruments.
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