Obama offers 'chadar' at Ajmer Dargah Sharif for Chishty's 803rd Urs

On behalf of U.S. President Barack Obama, that country's envoy to India Richard Verma has offered a 'Chadar' (a ceremonial cloth inscribed with religious verses) at the Ajmer Dargha Sharif on the occasion of the 803rd Urs of Sufi saint Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty.

The chadar was handed over to the Dargah's Chief Khadim or chief priest Syed Salman Chisty in Ajmer, Rajasthan.

This is the first time that the head of a non-South Asian country has offered spiritual greetings at the Ajmer Dargah Sharif.

"This is the first time, when a 'chadar', which is a secret cloth, was placed on the Mazar (tomb) of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishty sent by the United States Government on behalf of President Barack Obama. The embassy has handed over the 'chadar' to be placed on the beginning of the Urs of Khwaja Garib Nawaz," Syed Salman Chisty told ANI here.

"We will be presenting it on the sighting of the new moon, which will officially start the 803rd annual Urs of Khwaja Garib Nawaz. All the South Asian states have been sending the 'chadar' and greetings of peace, but this is the first time that a non South Asian country, United States of America has extended its greeting of peace for a place that truly stands for the whole of humanity," he added.

Chisty described it as a very important initiative for world peace and a very good and welcome gesture on the part of President Obama.