Sarkozys seek divine grace to beget a son

Besides strengthening ties with New Delhi, Sarkozy has also cleverly designed his itinerary to revive the spark in his rocky marriage with ex-supemodel Carla Bruni.And what better place to rekindle this romance than in a ghost town on the outskirts of Agra that was the capital of the Mughal empire in the 16th century.

A day after the French first couple spent some private moments with no paparazzi at the monument of love, the Taj Mahal, they walked barefoot with their heads covered praying for a son at the famous Fatehpur Sikri dargah of Saint Salim Chisthi. 

Hundreds visit the shrine every day and pray for their wishes to be fulfiled. The most common is the wish for a child. Both Sarkozy (55) and Bruni (42), who got married two years ago, reached the dargah at  3:40 pm and were welcomed by Rais Mian Chisthi, the Sajjadanashin of the dargah, along with his two sons. The dargah authorities had already made arrangements for skull caps and long robes for the visiting dignitaries. Bruni  covered her head with a pink stole.

Both Sarkozy and Bruni then walked barefoot to the dargah, where Rais Mian helped them offer the specially made 5x4 feet long “chadar” of roses. “I told them this dargah grants wishes to the jobless, the unmarried and even the childless. He asked me to pray for him and wish him success. While they were tying the thread, Carla said she wants a son and I prayed for them,” Rais Mian said. He added that even as they were leaving, Carla again spoke of her wish of having a son.

Though Sarkozy is the father of three sons and Carla, too, has one child from her previous marriage, the couple do not have any children.

Sarkozy and Bruni even tied the thread, known as “kalava”, the symbol of their wish, after asking Rais Mian to blow his breath on it. In accordance with the wishes of the first couple, a short “qawali” programme was also organised on the premises of the magnificent fort.

Sarkozy and Bruni, who spent about 20 minutes at the dargah, later left for Agra. “They followed all the customs and seemed very happy. It was an informal visit and they were very pleasant,” Rais Mian said.

Sarkozy, while leaving, said he was blessed to have been welcomed by the direct descendant of Salim Chisthi, said Arshad Faridi, son of Rais Mian.

In Agra, Sarkozy and Bruni chose to spend a quiet morning relaxing at a luxurious hotel here, which presents a magnificent view of the 17th century Mughal monument.

Though earlier the French couple were due to visit the monument of love on Sunday morning after spending the night at the Amarvilas Hotel, they decided to sneak out on Saturday evening itself to view the Taj at dusk and stayed there for an hour.

While the Taj was closed down for the public at 9:45 am on Sunday as per previous schedule of the French first couple, it was thrown open again within 45 minutes once the police was informed they were not going to the monument for a second time.

Sarkozy spent the time in the heavily guarded hotel by going to the gym and jogging on the lawns.  On their arrival at New Delhi’s Taj Palace hotel, the French first couple were accorded a ‘Jodhpuri’ welcome as the passage from the main entry gate to the porch was lined with ‘mashaals’ (torches).

Just as the first lady headed towards the lobby, Sarkozy urged her to look at the traditional ensemble of musical instruments. On watching nagadas (traditional drums) being played amidst ‘mashaals’, she exclaimed “this is fabulous”.

Women dressed in colourful Jodhpuri attire showered rose petals as they entered the lobby.