Faith over Fear

By Rajan Mahan, "Faith overrules terror as Urs arrives" - NDTV - New Delhi, India
Monday, July 7, 2008

The annual Urs in memory of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is now attracting a huge turn out.

A prime symbol of India's composite culture, the Ajmer Dargah had suffered a terrorist blast in 2007, raising worries that the Urs this time may be a low-key affair.

But in a triumph of faith over fear, countless devotees are now pouring into Ajmer. Ignoring safety worries and security hassles, thousands of devotees are now flocking to the Ajmer Dargah.

Given the terrorist blast at this Sufi shrine in October 2007, many had predicted that the turn out for the annual Urs may be rather dismal. But faith in Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti has helped pilgrims to overcome all fears.

''Khwaja Gareeb Nawaz gives us courage and fills our hearts with faith. We will never sit at home because of fear of terrorists. No matter what they do, we will always come to this Dargah. Nothing will ever stop us,'' said a devotee.

For nearly 800 years, people of all castes and religions have been to Ajmer to seek the Khwaja's blessings.

And the Khadims, the traditional servers of the Dargah, say the Khwaja will never allow terrorists to succeed in their divisive designs.

''Despite the plans of terrorists, the bomb blast at this Dargah did not lead to a big tragedy. In that way, Khwaja Sahab had already responded to the terrorists. And now by turning up in large numbers, the devotees have given a fitting reply to terrorists,'' said Irfan Rizvi, senior Khadim of the Ajmer Dargah.

And as the Khwaja's favourite Qawaali echo in all corners of the Dargah, it is clear that faith has scored a resounding victory over terrorist fears.