Pak pilgrims overcome difficulties to visit Ajmer

 Gaffar Khan, 80, a resident of Lahore who is attending the 805th Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at Ajmer, is full of mixed emotions.

“It was vey difficult to get the visa, especially after the surgical strike in September 2016, but somehow we managed to get in here. This is my second visit. I was nine when I first visited Ajmer and Nizamuddin shrine with my parents. I have lots of fond memories about the first visit.”

No cakewalk

Due to strained relations between India and Pakistan, visit to the sufi mystic’s shrine has not been a cakewalk for around 402 pilgrims from Pakistan.

The devotees, accompanied by officials of Pakistan High Commission, reached the Ajmer railway station in a special train on Saturday morning. According to the officials, around 562 people had applied for visa of which 402 were granted.

The group include, men, women, children and elderly pilgrims.For most of the elderly, it is a last spiritual wish of their lives. Shabana Begum, 74, who’s visiting the shrine for the first time told DH, “My family has been trying to get the Indian visa for years. Finally, this year we were able to get it.”

For friendly ties

While most pilgrims were delighted, some couldn’t hide their tears of joy after landing here. The devotees, who visited dargah, said they have also prayed for the friendly ties between India and Pakistan.

Ajmer Dargah Dewan Syed Zainul Abedin said, “Like every year the delegation will stay at Government Central Girls’ School in Naya Bazaar, which is close to the dargah. The main day of Urs is on April 4 and it will end on April 7.”