With Love from Obama, a 'Chadar' for Ajmer Sharif
Mumbai, April 18: The 803rd Urs (annual feast) celebrations of the revered saint Hazrat Khawaja Moinuddin Hasan Chisty of Ajmer, starting Monday, will be momentous affair this year - thanks to US President Barack Obama. A red coloured, richly embroidered 'chadar' (holy cloth) will be offered on Obama's behalf at the mausoleum of the Garib Nawaz on the inaugural day of the weeklong urs, Haji Syed Salman Chishty, director of Ajmer's Chishty Foundation, told IANS. The 'chadar' was solemnly handed over to Haji Chishty "on behalf of the US government and Obama By US ambassador Richard Verma, deputy chief of mission Micheal Pelletier and other officials on Friday morning, with a request to present it at the Ajmer Dargah Sharif. "It's a historic day and a welcome moment. It's the first gesture of extending spiritual greetings of peace to the Ajmer Dargah Sharif from a non-South Asian country's head of state," a pleased Haji Chishty, the 27th descendant of the saint, said while on a visit here for a function.