Ajmer Sharif Dargah, Sufi shrine in Ajmer district, India.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah is a shrine in Ajmer district, India, consisting of several covered courtyards and prayer halls arranged around a central tomb chamber. White marble walls enclose the complex, while silver gates and carved arches mark the entrances to the inner areas where worshippers gather.
Sultan Iltutmish visited the tomb of Mu'in al-Din Chishti in 1232, four years before the saint's death in March 1236. Akbar came fourteen times and had the sanctum rebuilt in 1579; the white marble dome dates from 1532, its date inscribed in gold on the north wall. Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Jahanara later renovated the complex.
Pilgrims from different religious communities come here to listen to Qawwali music and pray at the saint's tomb. The annual Urs celebration lasts six days and fills the courtyards with chanting, nighttime prayers and traditional ceremonies marking the saint's arrival in the 13th century.
The shrine is open to visitors daily, with separate entrances provided for men and women. Clothing should cover shoulders and knees, and photography is not allowed in some areas.
Visitors lay large amounts of rose petals at the tomb every day, which accumulate in fragrant layers as the day goes on. This custom has continued for centuries and transforms the tomb chamber into a space filled with the sweet scent of fresh blossoms.
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