718th Urs of Hazrat Khwaja Nizamuddin unites devotees of all faiths

Beautifully decorated with flowers and lights and echoing with magic and mysticism, the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi recently commemorated the 718th Urs of the holy Saint. Hundreds of devotees cutting across religious lines offered chadars and paid their obeisance to the holy Saint, creating a rainbow of religious diversity. Enlightening the atmosphere of Dargah during the Urs were the spell-binding Qawwali performances sung in praise of Allah. The Nizami brothers, descendants of Nizamuddin Auliya and their ancestors have been singing here for more than 700 years, which brings a sense of authenticity and genuineness to their commitment. It’s said that Saint Nizamuddin had asked that there should be sama or musical festivities at his funeral procession and the tradition is still being followed. During the Urs, a holy sacrament is also distributed among the devotees as a blessing of the Saint. Holy commemorations like these clearly indicate that the lesson of humanity and compassion that was once propagated by the Sufi saints is still having its roots deeply embedded in the Indian Culture.