The Hindu : National : Promote peace to live up to high ideals of Sufi saints: Manmohan

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Promote peace to live up to high ideals of Sufi saints: Manmohan

Mohammed Iqbal

‘Chadar’ offered at Ajmer dargah on behalf of Prime Minister

— Photo: PTI

Paying obeisance: A group of 300 pilgrims from Pakistan offer a Chadar at the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer on Sunday.

JAIPUR: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday called for promoting peace, tolerance and harmony in a world rife with conflict and discord, to live up to the high ideals of Sufi saints. A velvet ‘chadar’ was offered on behalf of Dr. Singh at the historic dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer to mark the ongoing 797th Urs. Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan laid the ‘chadar’ at the shrine along with wreaths and prayed for the welfare of people in the country.

In his message addressed to the pilgrims taking part in the Urs, Dr. Singh said the values espoused by Khwaja Gharib Nawaz in the 13th century continued to inspire the people even now. “The Khwaja exhorted his disciples to develop sun-like affection and earth-like hospitality. The highest form of devotion is to redress the misery of those in distress and feed the hungry,” he said.

‘More relevant today’

Dr. Singh said the Sufi saint’s teachings were more relevant in today’s world . “The Urs of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz should be an occasion to reflect on his values and promote peace and harmony in the society.”

Mr. Chavan, accompanied by Union Ministers of State Sachin Pilot and Mahadev Singh, performed ‘ziarat’ at the mausoleum and offered prayers. Abdul Ghani Gurdezi, a ‘Khadim’ (worker) of the dargah, conducted ‘dastarbandi’ of the visitors and presented them with ‘tabarrukh’ (sweetmeat) for Dr. Singh.

Mr. Chavan read out the Prime Minister’s message at Buland Darwaza in the dargah. Mr. Pilot read out its Hindi translation. A large number of Congress leaders of Rajasthan were present on the occasion.

Mr. Singh gave away the ‘chadar’ to his aide-de-camp at Raj Bhavan here on Sunday. The Urs, which began on June 19 , will continue till this week-end.

Khwaja Gharib Nawaz founded the Chishtiya order of Sufism in India. He is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the annals of Islamic mysticism.

The annual Urs commemorates his death in 1236, which is observed as the union of his soul with God.

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