|
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embraced death in solitude while he had withdrawn to his cell for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.
|