Ajmer: Union Ministers Salman Khursheed and Sachin Pilot offered a 'chadar' or holy cloth at the revered shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti in Ajmer on the occasion of 797 “Urs” here on Saturday. Khursheed and Pilot offered the 'chadar' on behalf of United Progressive Alliance Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the sacred Ajmer Sharif shrine. “Everyday she (Sonia Gandhi) is praying for monsoon, in fact all of us are praying for rain. Congress leaders and thousands of other devotees have prayed for rain at this shrine and we hope that by the blessings of Khwaja Sahib (saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chisti) it will rain,” said Salman Khursheed.

     Meanwhile, over 300 devotees from Pakistan arrived in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district on Saturday to offer prayers at the sacred Ajmer Sharif shrine. Devotees urged that both India and Pakistan should maintain good relationship. “ India and Pakistan share a close and friendly relationship and both the countries should maintain this relationship as they are dependent on each other, sometimes problem arises but it should be sorted out and by the grace of God the relationship between both countries is improving,” said Naseer Khan, one of the devotees from Pakistan . Devotees said that they wanted people of both countries to shed their cynical thinking. “People should leave their cynical mentality, people of both countries should change their mentality and start living in a peaceful manner which would be good for both the countries,” said Zafar Alam, another devotee from Pakistan . It is believed that praying at the tomb of the saint fulfils a person's wishes. Devotees visiting the shrine offer fresh flowers as a symbol of their devotion.

      Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi had on Thursday sent the "Chadar" to the shrine through the senior party leaders who carried it. The chadar was touched by them at Sonia's residence before sending, symbolising their participation in the offering. "Considering the circumstances prevailing in the country, we pray that our country prospers by the blessings of almighty and may harmony and peace reign in our country," said Haroon Yousuf, Food And Civil Supplies Minister, Delhi Government. The Urs is observed to mark the death anniversary of the departed saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The shrine is a symbol of religious convergence as both Hindus and Muslims throng the shrine in large numbers with the belief that all their wishes would be fulfilled once they offer prayers at the shrine. This gathering for the Urs is considered to be the second largest congregation of Muslims at one place after Mecca.
-June 27, 2009