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Musharraf seeks brush with divine in Ajmer

On Monday afternoon, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf will add a touch of the divine to his India visit when he pays homage at the shrine of 12th century Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty at Ajmer.

And while he is about it, he is scheduled to get some history lessons as well.

Musharraf, as per programme, is expected to land at the Gaugera helipad, some ten kilometres from the shrine. He will then proceed in a motorcade towards the government guest house here, for a tea break, before reaching the shrine.

The Pakistan president will be received at Nizam Gate -- the main gate of the Dargah built by Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1911 -- by the president and secretary of the Anjuman Syedzadgan, the association of ‘khadims’ (servitors) at the Dargah, who are the descendents of the original disciples of the Sufi saint.

Also part of the reception committee are the Nizam (adminstrator) of the dargah and the Diwan (Shahzadanashin) Zain-ul- Abideen, a linear descendent of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisty.

After crossing the main gate, Musharraf will be led through the Shahjahani gate, erected by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan, and taken to Sahn Chirag -- a massive chandelier erected by Akbar when he conquered the neighbouring Rajput state of Chittorgarh.

Just prior to that, Musharraf will arrive at the Ahaat-e-Noor -- a large courtyard where qawwalis are sung and religious functions are celebrated by the khadims. When he arrives there, he will find himself facing the Mazar-e-Aqdas (mausoleum) of the Sufi saint.

Musharraf will then pay homage to the saint and, as a mark of devotion, offer garlands of rose petals and ‘Chadder’ (a silken cloth embroidered with 'Muhammad' and 'Allah').

“We have come to know that Musharraf has brought the Chadder from Pakistan,” Diwan Zianulabideen said.

Anjuman president Ghulam Kibriya will then recite Fateha (Quranic Verses) and offer prayers for peace and goodwill between India and Pakistan. Musharraf will then be honoured by Dastarbandi -- wherein a cotton cloth is placed on the tomb of the saint for blessing, then tied on Musharraf's head. Similarly, Begum Sehba will be blessed with a cotton dupatta.

Musharraf and his begum will then be led to the sepulcher of Moinuddin Chisty’s daughter Hafiz Jamal, where the Anjuman will present him with some gifts. Musharraf will then visit the Shahjahani Mosque, an imposing, multi-arched structure erected by Emperor Shahjehan.

He will then pass through the Buland Darwaza, a massive gate erected by Mahmood Khilji. Traditionally, the commencement of the Urs (death anniversary) of the Sufi saint is announced by hoisting a flag atop this gate.

As he leaves the premises, he will receive one more headgear, this time from Diwan Zainaul-Abideen, the descendent of the saint. A biography of the saint will also be presented to him.

Musharraf will then leave for the helipad. En route, ironically, he will find on the roadside a piece of history -- a Pakistan Army tank captured by India during the 1971 war.

Indo-Pak Summit 2001: The Complete Coverage

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