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In Pictures: India’s largest Sufi festival

Thousands gather at Ajmer for annual Urs festival commemorating death of Sufi saint.

Thousands of pilgrims prepare to leave the Sufi shrine after offering prayers during the annual Urs festival.
By Karen Dias
Published On 10 May 2014

Thousands of people have converged in the western Indian city of Ajmer as part of the annual Urs festival celebrated at the famous Sufi shrine.

It is the largest Sufi festival held in the country during the seventh month of the Islamic calendar based on moon sightings.

People of all faiths take part in the festival that commemorates the death anniversary of revered Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti, also known as “Gharib Nawaz” (Benefactor of The Poor).

Thousands of pilgrims from various parts of India and the world descend upon the lake town in Rajasthan state to celebrate the life of the famous saint and founder of the Chishti order of Sufism.

It is said that the saint spent the last six days of his life in a prayer room which is where the shrine is built.

During the week-long festival, devotees offer prayers, flowers, food, money and other donations at the shirne where the tomb of Saint Moinuddin Chishti lies.

Celebrations include Sufi poetry recitals and “qawalli” or devotional songs, which can carry on through the entire night.

Sufi devotees carry a "chadar" or blanket to offer at the shrine of the saint.
A young boy along with musicians performs "qawalli", a Sufi devotional song, inside the shrine compound.
Sufi Muslim devotees use sharp objects to self-flagellate during a procession.
Devotees make donations of rice and money in a "Degh", a metal cauldron that can cook up to 4800kg of food which is distributed among the people at the festival.
Pilgrims stand in line to enter the shrine to offer prayers. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world attend the annual event.
A family offers a "chadar" to the shrine of the saint who propagated Sufi Islam in the 12th century.
Pilgrims carry rose water to wash the doors of the shrine.
Musicians sing "qawalli" as part of the week-long festival.
Thousands of men offer prayers in the evening at the shrine of the revered saint.
Devotees throng the shrine in the evening.
Women pray at the shrine of Moinuddin Chishti, the pioneer of Sufi Islam in India.
Munna, a shop owner, sells flowers to devotees who offer them at the shrine.
Women pray at the ladies section of shrine that attracts people of all faiths.
Transgender women offer prayers at the Sufi shrine.
Families pray on the terrace of the shrine.