Ajmer
Sharif Dargah timings time table of Dargah Khwaja Garib Nawaz Ajmer Sharif dargah
closing time Rajasthan, India
Mazare Aqdas (
Ajmer Sharif
Shrine
Timings India ) Ajmer Sharif Dargah timings
India
ajmer sharif dargah opening time &
closing time, ajmer sharif shrine opening time & closing
time
Season
Gates are opened
Gates are closed
Winters
5 A.M. 9 P.M.
Summers 4 A.M.
10 P.M
Ajmer Sharif Dargah Daily
Functions
Every-day no where in the world at
any Astana such a large number of functions and ceremonies is performed as at the
Holy Astana of Hazrat Khwaja Gharib Nawaz and that too, in a highly traditional
way and strictly in accordance with the Chishtia precepts. These spiritual programmes
are the source of earning, the blessings, pleasure and confidence of the Holy Saint
and have proved beneficial for attainment of high spiritual ecstasy and bliss. Though
these functions are performed by Khadims, yet, they have been attended by devotees
for their own benefit. Therefore, devotees in large number attend these functions
and receive the blessings of the Holy Khwaja and feel enlightened. If these functions
are attended with piety and devotion all the prayers which are made at those timings
are sure to be granted.
The detailed description of these functions is given below.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah Khidmat" Before Fajr
Prayer
An hour before the 'Salat' of Fajr, khadims and devotees of Khwaja Saheb gather
in Begami Dalan which is the main entrance to the Mazaar (Grave) and lies to the
east of the tomb. Azan is recited by one of the khadims after which the Kalid Bardar
opens the lock that guards the main door. Through this entrance the khadims enter
into the tomb and stand in between the main entrance and a small door, which is
still closed. Before opening this small door the Kalid Bardar sends Darood and Salaam
to the holy Prophet, his descendants and to Huzoor Gharib Nawaz. The small door
is then opened and khadims enter into the tomb. After entering into the tomb, they
prepare for 'Khidmat'. Some stand round the first enceinte of the Mazaar, some enter
in between space of the two enceintes and some enter in between the space of the
Holy Mazaar and the second enceinte. Flowers and chadar are removed from the Mazaar
which is then cleansed and fresh flowers and chadar are offered. Once this ceremony
is over, khadims standing in between the two enceintes and outside the second enceinte
start cleaning the floor with 'Farasha' ( a special dust remover made with peacock
feathers).
During this ceremony devotees are not
permitted to enter the tomb. For them the southern door of the tomb is open, where
they are allowed to enter into the tomb and sit in the open space near the shrine
of Hazrat Bibi Hafiza Jamal, daughter of Khwaja Gharib Nawaz. Once the khadims are
finished with the ritual of Khidmat inside the tomb, the devotees are allowed to
enter into the tomb and perform Ziarat of the Mazaar. This ceremony ends before
the call of Azaan for Salat of Fajr.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah "Khidmat" After
Zohr Prayer
An hour after zohr prayers another ceremony is performed which is also known as
Khidmat. At this time, though the doors of the tomb are closed the southern door
is used for entrance into the tomb. At the time of this ceremony, devotees are permitted
to enter the tomb. They are allowed to stand in between the space of the walls of
the tomb and the enceinte of the Mazaar. At this time after removal of the flowers
and chadar, sandal, attar, kewra and rose water are presented on the Mazaar. khadims
who perform this ceremony offer prayers loudly. At the end of prayers fresh flowers
and chadar are presented on the Mazaar. The floor of the tomb is also cleansed in
traditional manner. Women are not permitted to enter the tomb during the entire
period of this ceremony.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah Lighting or Danka
Every day about 20 minutes before Maghrib prayer the ceremony of lighting is held.
The way in which this ceremony is performed is that some khadims bring candles (especially
prepared for this purpose) in their hands towards the Chhoti Deg. As soon as they
start moving from the Chhoti Deg towards the Holy Tomb, drums are beaten.
Everyone starts gathering inside the tomb, those who can not enter the tomb stand
outside on either side of the main entrance in the Begami Dalan. At this time too,
women are not permitted to enter into the tomb. khadims after touching the candles
on to the heads of the devotees reach inside the tomb with prayers of blessing for
devotees.
They place those candles in the lamps.
The unlighted candles are now lighted. The lamps in which the candles are placed
are four in number. khadims hold these lamps in their hands and keep them above
their heads. One of them recite Persian verses for the glory of the Holy Saint.
With the end of those verses the people disperse and the lamps are placed in four
corners of the Holy Tomb.
In the local language this ceremony is called 'Danka'.
Ajmer Sharif Dargah Kadka
This last ceremony of the day is popularly known as 'Kadka' and is performed in
traditional manner. This ceremony is held after an hour and a half of Isha prayers.
After this ceremony the door of the main entrance into the Holy tomb is closed and
locked.
According to an old tradition, 20 minutes before closing the main entrance of the
Holy Tomb when about one fifth part of the night has passed, a person loudly calls
to ring five and with his voice the clock sounds five times. The khadims ready to
perform this function request the devotees to vacate the tomb, the devotees come
out of the tomb and stand on either side of the entrance. The khadims then close
the other doors from inside and make a search inside the entire tomb to check if
there is no one inside the tomb. At least three khadims join in this service. They
clean the surroundings of the Mazaar in the same way as they do in the morning and
evening Khidmat.
They come out of the tomb one by one
with the sand and dust of the floor kept in a fine cloth and keep the same in a
shelf inside Sandali-Masjid. When the third and the last khadims come out, a person
duly appointed again calls in a loud voice to ring six bells. The bell sounds six
times. As soon as the voice of the sixth bell sounds, a qawwal starts to sing a
special song in an Indian language which is called Kadka. As soon as the last verse
of the Kadka is recited, the main entrance of the tomb is closed and locked. The
Khadim on duty keeps the key with him and also keeps a watch of the tomb throughout
the night.