Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met with a delegation of Muslim community leaders and presented them with a sacred Chadar, a cloth offering, to be placed at the revered Ajmer Sharif Dargah for the upcoming Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The gesture was seen by many as a symbol of interfaith harmony and respect for Muslim traditions.
Modi has made a tradition of presenting a Chadar to the Dargah on the annual Urs, commemorating the death anniversary of the revered Sufi saint. This year's offering, as with previous years, will be draped over the saint's tomb at the Dargah, a significant pilgrimage site for Muslims in India and beyond.
Sharing images of the meeting on his official social media accounts, Modi said, "Met a Muslim community delegation. During our interaction, I presented the sacred Chadar, which will be placed during the Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti at the esteemed Ajmer Sharif Dargah."
The meeting and offering come amidst ongoing social and political tensions in India, with issues of religious polarization and minority rights frequently in the spotlight. Modi's gesture was welcomed by many Muslim leaders and commentators, who saw it as a positive step towards interfaith dialogue and understanding.