Dargah Sharif, Ajmer in Pictures

At the outset let me say that cameras are not allowed inside the Dargah, Ajmer. Cell phones are allowed though. I now have a good camera in my phone, the Lumia 1020 so I was excited. I really don’t feel very enthusiastic while visiting places that do not allow photography. This was my third visit to Dargah Sharif but on the last two occasions I was not too thrilled to shoot with my cell phone.

The Narrow Lanes

There are actually two ways to go to the dargah. The auto and other vehicles are not allowed on the main road leading to the shrine. Our auto driver took us through the narrow lanes and dropped us near this house. The shrine is just round the corner from this spot.

This is the walking road that leads to the shrine. Every time I went there, it was always like this. Be it winter or summer there are always the same number of people around the dargah area.

The Flowers

The road leading to the dargah is lined with flower shops. The custom is to offer a chadar and/or flowers. I simply went in and offered my prayers and thanks.

There are chadar and flower shops within the dargah complex as well. I clicked this picture within the shrine when there was a momentary lull. After a while I had to remind myself not to click anymore flowers as in the end I can use only one or two on my blog!

The Entrance

This is the main entry point to the shrine. From my first visit I do remember there is a side entrance. You cannot carry even a handbag inside the premises. I was not aware of this on my first visit and I went in looking for a locker. That is when I discovered the side entrance.

One has to enter the shrine barefoot, there are many places where you can leave your shoes. In May some parts of the floor were really hot, they almost burned my feet. But there were carpets all around, so in the end the feet burning sensation was not too much.

Inside the Shrine

Nobody really objects if you use your cell phone camera at the peripheries. I decided to click the water tank. We are supposed to wash our hands before entering the shrine.

On the walls of the main shrine people tie a thread when they make a wish (mannat). I think you are supposed to come back and untie it when your wish comes true. For the believers if you ask for a vajib mannat at dargah sharif they say it will come true. By vajib it is meant that you could not ask for divine assistance for getting someone killed or things like that. I guess your imagination is as good as mine when it comes to making invalid wishes, the ones that baba will not grant.

We went in with Syed Mohammed Fakhre Alam Fakhri, he is third from left. From the picture you can make out that we need to cover our head while visiting the dargah. You can easily go into the shrine on your own. But if you wish to go with a contact I found Alam Bhai quite helpful. He can be reached at 9829187976. I feel quite blessed that I have been called back to the dargah so many times!