Celebrating the saint’s death.
[Text and pictures by Mayank Austen Soofi]
Saturday evening, April 3rd, 2010. The sufis are celebrating the death anniversary of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Delhi’s 14th century sufi saint. On this day, he married his lover. That is, the saint’s soul united with his beloved, the God. Urs means ‘wedding’ in Arabic.
The dargah’s dome is lit up with electric bulbs. Its courtyard is crowded. After the prayers, there will be nightlong qawwalis. Special food stalls have been set up around the lanes leading to the shrine. Some pilgrims are wearing yellow-colored pointed caps; yellow is the favorite colour of the saint. Families are lounging around the dargah’s several graves. The pankhawallas are fanning the pilgrims. One of them has only one arm.
While the courtyard is packed with worshippers, a few are also sitting inside the main shrine, around the tomb of Hazrat Nizamuddin. This chamber was the meditation room of the saint. Here he died in 1325. Centuries later, his presence is as tangible as it was when he was alive. Every time The Delhi Walla is in the dargah, he feels close to Nizamuddin, and so also close to the God. It’s magic.
The evening of the Union
Chinese bulbs
Bright and festive
The sweet boy
Get, set, go
Three believers
Happy family?
The cooling effect
The lovers of Nizamuddin
Have an arm, will fan
Go, get the blessing
Remembering the beloved
The decoration budget
The company of sufis
Close to Him, closer to Him
The Dargah’s people
Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya
