Khwaja
The chhat sharif of Khawaja Garib Nawaz is celebrated every month on 6 th day of Islamic calendar.
pilgrims and all kinds of other visitors are banned from entering the dargah. The khadims, dressed in their best clothes, approach the shrine carrying flowers, essence of flowers (atr) and sweets, etc. After laying chiras or dastars (small turbans) on each other’s heads, they start performing the rites laid down by tradition for this special occasion.
After the recitation of shajara-i Chishtiya (spiritual pedigree of Chishti order) by a khadim, and of some other verses composed in the form of a faryad (petition), they announce their allegiance to Khwaja Sahib and humbly ask for the gift to repent of their sins and shortcomings. They pray for all the devotees, and for the peace and prosperity of mankind, and remain engaged in the recitation of verses of Quran prayers and darud till the arrival of the diwan from the mahfil-khana, normally at about 1 p.m. At the mahfil-khana the mahfil-i sama starts at about 11 a.m., and only the qawwals of the dargah are entitled to sing on that day. Then golas are blown and drums beaten to mark the end of gul and urs. After this the diwan, with one or two of his closest relatives for whose presence prior permission has been taken from the khadims, leaves for the shrine. At the Jannati- darwaza the baridar checks the diwan’s companions and then allows them to enter the shrine. Soon after his entry into the shrine the Jannati-darwaza is closed. On his arrival in the shrine the diwan kisses the tomb and offers flowers, and then one of the khadims, who happens to be his wakil, like the other pilgrims, ties a dastar (turban) over his head, spreads the cloth sheet over his bowed head, prays for him, and then gives him tabarruk, consisting of flowers, sandal and sweets.
On every sixth of the lunar month the khadims also arrange
a function called chatti sharif. At about 9 a.m. at the same
courtyard in front of the shrine, first of all, Quran-khwani—
recitation of the whole Quran by a large number of people takes
place, and then one of the khadims starts reciting the shajara-i
Chishtiyya (spiritual pedigree of the Chishti order) as well as
other verses composed by Khwaja Sahib’s ancestors.
Thus, during the whole year one kind of ceremony or the
other takes place at the shrine, and religious activities and rituals
are carried on in a manner which may, in one sense, tend to
overshadow the true spirit which underlies the philosophy and
thought of Khwaja Sahib. But, at the same time, all these
activities keep the pilgrims and people busy in devotional
activities and, in another sense, keep alive the Sufi spirit.
On the night which falls between Sth and 6th Rajab, the
celebration attains its peak of excitement and exultation. The
sacred precincts of the shrine are crowded with thousands and
thousands of people, all occupied with performing rites and
prayers, reciting the Quran, listening to qawwalis arranged by
the khadims at their respective gaddis and hujras (cells) within
the compound of the dargah. On 6th Rajab, at about 11 a.m.,