Narhar Dargah: A Beacon of Communal Harmony in Rajasthan, Celebrated by Hindus and Muslims Together

By Sahil Razvi, New Age Islam 9 October 2024 Narhar Dargah In Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, Is A Symbol Of Communal Harmony Where Hindus And Muslims Celebrate Together. The 750-Year-Old Shrine Hosts An Annual Urs And Fair, Drawing Pilgrims From Across India. It Represents Unity, With Shared Prayers And Meals, Honouring The Legacy Of Hazrat Shakkarbar Peer Baba Main Points: 1. Narhar Dargah exemplifies communal harmony. 2. Hosts annual Urs and fair during Bhadrapad. 3. Hindus and Muslims celebrate together. 4. Shrine dedicated to Hazrat Shakkarbar Peer Baba. 5. Pilgrims offer prayers and share meals. ------ In the Chirawa area of Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, the Dargah of Hazrat Shakkarbar Peer Baba in Narhar stands as a remarkable example of communal unity, where Hindus and Muslims celebrate side by side. This 750-year-old shrine symbolizes the strength of harmony between communities. Alongside the annual Urs, a grand fair is organized every year during the month of Bhadrapad. At this sacred site, people from all backgrounds come together for prayers, offerings, and a communal feast (Bhandara) where Hindus and Muslims sit together and share meals. The three-day celebration draws pilgrims from all over India, with Hindus often present in larger numbers than Muslims. Here, the distinctions of religion fade, and humanity takes center stage. Thousands of devotees visit the shrine, celebrating in unity while Sufi songs are sung in honor of the saint. According to the caretakers of the Dargah, this event takes place every year from the sixth to the eighth day of the dark fortnight in Bhadrapad. This year, the celebrations have already begun, with the main fair set for August 19. Hazrat Shakkarbar Peer Baba arrived from Iran during the time when Sufi saints began coming to India. He settled in the region, where his reputation as a helper of the poor and needy quickly grew. His name became well-known, especially in the villages surrounding Chirawa, where people revered him deeply. A Shrine Steeped in Centuries of Tradition Devotees say that Shakkarbar Peer Baba took his final rest in Narhar about 750 years ago. Since then, an annual Urs is held, and a fair is celebrated on Janmashthami. Local residents point out that all major festivals, be it Holi, Diwali, Muharram, or Bakrid, are celebrated collectively by Hindus and Muslims. The Dargah offers facilities for pilgrims, and its dome is crafted from smooth clay. Around the same time that Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti was in Ajmer, Shakkarbar Shah resided in Narhar, in the Shekhawati region. Like Chishti, Shakkarbar Shah was a revered spiritual figure. A shrine was built in his name after he passed away. According to local legend, there was once a time when sugar (Shakkar) would miraculously fall from the dome of the Dargah. Even today, devotees offer sweets and Chadar (cloth coverings) at his tomb in reverence. Why It’s Called Shakkarbar The shrine is famously known as Baba Haji Shakkarbar Shah’s Dargah. Locals believe that at one time, sugar used to rain down from the dome, which is why it was given the name 'Shakkarbar'. The site holds deep spiritual importance for those who visit. There is also a large sacred tree within the Dargah’s compound, where devotees tie threads as a symbol of their wishes and prayers. How to Reach Narhar To visit Narhar, one must first reach Chirawa. Chirawa is well-connected by both State and National Highways to major cities like Jaipur, Delhi, Bikaner, and Narnaul, and it also has a railway station. From Chirawa, Narhar is just 11 kilometres away and can be reached by either bus or train. Visitors can also travel to Narhar via Devrad village, located on Pilani Road, which is 3 kilometres from Narhar. Pilani is 21 kilometres away, and if you’re traveling from Jhunjhunu, Narhar is a 38-kilometer journey. From Jaipur, the distance is approximately 218 kilometers. ----- Sahil Razvi is an Author and Research scholar specialising in Sufism and History and an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamia. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/narhar-dargah-communal-harmony-rajasthan-hindus-muslims/d/133390 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism