Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Hindu
The Hindu
National
Mohammed Iqbal

Devotees defying lockdown dispersed at Rajasthan dargah

Devotees gathered for observing ‘Urs’ at a dargah in Sarwar town in Rajasthan (Source: Special Arrangement)

About 100 devotees, who defied the lockdown restrictions and gathered for observing ‘Urs’ (death anniversary) at a dargah in Sarwar town of Rajasthan’s Ajmer district, were dispersed by the police with the use of mild force. The six-day ‘Urs’ of Sufi mystic Khwaja Fakhruddin Chishti at the dargah ended on Wednesday.

Though the police had given permission to five persons from the world-famous dargah in Ajmer for offering a ‘chadar’ (sacred cloth) at the Sarwar dargah, several others joined them in the ritual. When the police asked them to vacate the dargah premises, they allegedly objected and confronted the police.

According to the police sources, five persons were arrested under Section 151 (arrest to prevent cognisable offences) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Imran Tanwar, a Congress leader in Sarwar, said theUrs’ had been observed with the necessary rituals by the dargah's workers in the absence of the pilgrims who come every year from different parts of Rajasthan and other States. The devotees, who gathered at the shrine, wanted to join the offering of ‘chadar’ in violation of the orders banning the assembly of people.

The dargah, built near a pond in Sarwar — 60 km away from Ajmer — has the tomb of Khwaja Fakhruddin, who was the eldest son of Khawaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer. The Sufi saint, who had adopted agriculture as his profession, died in 1265 A.D.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.