Sonia Gandhi sends her offerings to Sufi saint's shrine

New Delhi/Ajmer, June 14 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday sent a 'chaddar' to the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moin-ud-din Chishti in Rajasthan's Ajmer city.

The cloth is to be offered at the shrine by Congress party leaders on the occasion of Urs.

'Urs' marks the death anniversary of Moin-ud-din Chishti, who is popularly referred to as 'Gharib Nawaz', or the 'messiah of the poor'.

Scores of devotes from all over India converge the shrine on the occasion.

Chishti, who is believed to have been born in 1142 AD, preached tolerance and unity of all religions.

In 1236 AD, the saint entered his cell to pray in seclusion for six days, at the end of which he died. Since then Urs has been celebrated for six days every year.

It is believed that praying at the tomb of the saint fulfils a person's wishes. Devotees visiting the shrine offer fresh flowers as a symbol of their devotion. Some even go up to the extent of offering large amounts of money and expensive jewels.

Devotional music and recitations from Chishti's own works and other Sufi saints are presented in traditional Qawwali (chorus singing) style.

The annual event culminates with readings from the holy Quran and special prayers. (ANI)