A secular mosque that celebrates Janmashtmi

But in a unique gesture of secular culture, a mosque in Shekhawati region of Rajasthan gets decked up for Janmashtmi celebrations.

A fair takes place at the Narhad Pir Baba ki dargah, popularly known as Shakar Peer Baba’s mosque on Krishna Janmashtmi. Situated in Narhad village, about 40 km from Jhunjhunu district headquarter, the mosque draws a large number of devotees on the occasion — both Hindus and Muslims.

The devotees throng this ancient mosque to pray and seek blessings of the saint on the occasion of Janmashtmi. The three-day fair is attended by devotees from other states like Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

The fair has a special significance in Shekhawati region and hundreds of Hindus visit Narhad on Janmashtmi. The village is maintaining this tradition for a long time and the mosque bears a festive look during Janmashtmi.

Like every year, the Narhad dargah committee has organised devotional programmes to mark the occasion. Dargah committee Sadar Abdul Latif Pathan says a special khayal gayaki programme will be presented in Narhad Baba’s honour followed by Krishna Janmashtmi celebrations at midnight.

It is said that the mosque is older than the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti at Ajmer. The dome of the mosque is made of soil and no stone is used. Locals believe the saint used to shower sugar on his devotees giving him the name Shakarbar Pir. Muslims seek the blessings of the saint by offering chadar at the mosque, but Hindus also visit the place for performing tonsure or other pious rituals.

Lots of people also believe that the saint’s mosque has a miraculous charm to cure mental disorders, bringing many afflicted ones to his doorstep. The mosque is a unique symbol of communal harmony in the state but strangely entry of women devotees is prohibited here.