Rajasthan is synonymous with riots of color and the famous Urs festival in Ajmer is just the right place to get a real taste of the spirited desert-land. The entire town is ornamented and the setting looks out of the blue!

 

Urs festival in Ajmer is a very popular festival celebrated in honour of venerated Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti. The festival takes place in the first six days of the seventh month of the Islamic calender. It displays a wonderful spirit where people belonging to various caste and creed amalgam to offer special prayers at the mosque. The entire place takes part in the celebration. The festival begins with hoisting of the white flag.

 

Though a mulslim fair, the unshakable faith in Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti call upon devotees to visit the site with a belief they would never return empty handed. People offer ghilaph, neema, jasmine and chadar as 'nazraanas'on the tomb to seek the blessings. The tomb is purified by rose water and sandalwood paste. Scented perfume is sprinkled on the tomb.

 

Urs festival is also known for the plundering of the milk pudding cooked in two capacious cauldrons. The food is then distributed amongst the devotees.

 

The mehfils and qawwalis organized at night within in the dargah premises create soul-lifting moments. The wonderful display of fireworks add more charm. Those who love to immerse in poetry, the festival offers plenty of literay discourses especially interesting poetry session where several known and unknown poets read out their compositions.