DAILY CEREMONIES

Each day, the devoted Khuddām of Hazrat Khwāja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.) carry out sacred duties within the holy precincts of Dargāh Ajmer Sharif. With hearts immersed in divine love, these blessed acts include:

Khidmat — Selfless service at the Mazār-e-Muqaddas
Langar — Preparation and distribution of blessed communal meals

Samā (Qawwali) — Soul-stirring Chishtī devotional music that awakens the heart
Ziyārat & Du‘ā — Personalized prayers and offerings on behalf of devotees around the world

Each act is performed with profound reverence, continuity of 800+ years of sacred tradition, and the intention to spread the faiz (spiritual grace) of Sultan-ul-Hind to every corner of the earth.

Daily ceremonies

KHIDMAT

The Khidmat of Hazrat Khwāja Gharib Nawāz (R.A.) is performed twice daily by the Khuddām of the Dargāh Sharīf, following the 800-year-old Chishti tradition of devotion and sacred discipline:

🕓 Morning Khidmat (Around 4:00 AM, before Fajr):

The main gate of the Dargāh is opened with the Azān. Pilgrims are allowed entry up to the second door, but not inside the sanctum.
Fresh Chader (velvet covering) is respectfully placed over the Mazār, replacing the previous one.
Fragrant fresh flowers are offered, and the sanctified area is gently cleaned with the Farāsha (a peacock-feather broom).
No Sandal or Fateha is performed during this time.
The Khadim offers special Dua on behalf of all devotees.

🕒 Daytime Khidmat (At 3:00 PM / 2:30 PM on Thursdays):

Pilgrims are permitted inside the shrine, except women due to sanctity customs.
The ritual includes all morning acts, plus:
Application of Sandal (sacred non-alcoholic perfume) on the Mazār-e-Muqaddas
Distribution of blessed Sandal to pilgrims
Recitation of Fateha, invoking barakah for all
At both times, the Khadims of Ajmer Sharif offer Du‘ās for peace, healing, and fulfillment for all who are spiritually connected to Sultan-ul-Hind Khwāja Gharib Nawaz (R.A.)—whether physically present or sending their offering from afar.

ROSHNI

Each evening, fifteen minutes before Maghrib (sunset prayer), the spellbinding ritual of Roshnee begins—an ancient tradition of light and reverence at the Mazār-e-Muqaddas of Khwāja Gharib Nawāz (R.A.).

✨ With rhythmic beats of traditional drums, the devoted Khuddām of Ajmer Sharif gracefully enter the sanctified tomb, carrying lit candles with utmost adab (respect).

📜 Inside, they recite spiritual Persian couplets, whose sacred words echo through the shrine, invoking deep reverence and divine presence.

🕯️ The candles are then placed into ornately crafted lamps, which are respectfully positioned in the four corners of the holy sanctum.

🌟 As the candles are lit, the entire chamber glows with a celestial radiance, symbolizing the light of divine love and the eternal Faiz (spiritual grace) of Sultan-ul-Hind.

This daily ritual of light is not just a visual marvel, but a deeply spiritual moment—awakening hearts, illuminating souls, and drawing seekers into the silent presence of the great saint.

KARKA (Closing)

As the night deepens and silence envelopes the courtyard of Ajmer Sharif, the divine ritual of Karka unfolds—a solemn and majestic ceremony that marks the closing of the Holy Tomb of Hazrat Khwāja Gharib Nawāz (R.A.) each night.

🕰️ Roughly one hour after the Isha prayer, when one-fifth of the night has passed, a designated caretaker gently strikes the clock five times, signaling the moment for all present within the tomb to begin their respectful exit.

🧹 Once the shrine is vacated, three senior Khuddām step forward to perform the final Khidmat (ritual cleaning) of the night. With devotion and purity of intention, they sweep and cleanse the sacred sanctum—ensuring it rests in sanctity till dawn.

🔔 As soon as the Khuddām emerge, six chimes ring out in swift succession. In that divine stillness, the voices of the Qawwāls rise in unison with the melodious and mystical rendition of "Karka"—a traditional farewell hymn that echoes with love, longing, and surrender.

🚪 With the last note of the Karka resonating in the air, the doors of the Mazār-e-Muqaddas are reverently sealed, and the shrine is returned to its celestial silence for the night.

This age-old ceremony is not just an ending—but a spiritual sealing of blessings, a moment of divine farewell, and a promise that the doors of Gharib Nawāz’s mercy shall open again with the first light of dawn

LANGER

Each day, the luminous courtyard of Dargāh Ajmer Sharif becomes a sanctuary of divine compassion through the sacred tradition of Langer—free food offered in the name of Khwāja Gharib Nawāz (R.A.) to all, regardless of background, status, or creed.

🍲 A soul-nourishing wheat porridge is lovingly prepared by the Khuddām, using a special blessed grass, echoing the very recipe once favored by Hazrat Khwāja Moinuddin Chishti (R.A.) himself. This sacred dish carries not only nourishment, but also the spiritual fragrance of simplicity, humility, and love.

👑 Even Emperor Akbar the Great, during his historic pilgrimage to the Dargāh, would humbly stand in line among common devotees, awaiting his turn to partake in the same blessed Langer—affirming the eternal equality of all in the court of Gharib Nawāz.

🌙 The Langer is distributed daily after the Isha prayer, radiating warmth, unity, and divine mercy. It is not merely a meal—it is a spiritual offering, a moment of inclusion, and a taste of the eternal generosity of the Saint of Ajmer.