Beyond the bustling streets of Delhi lies a sanctuary of peace. It is a place where faith and history intertwine. Welcome to the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah. This is the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya.
Nizamuddin Auliya was a Sunni Muslim scholar. He was a Sufi saint of the Chishti Order. Nizamuddin stressed love as a means of realising God. He believed the love of God implied a love of humanity.
The Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah is more than just a tomb. It is a complex of tombs, a mosque, and a stepwell. The Jamat Khana Masjid stands next to the dargah. It is also known as the Khilji Mosque. Red sandstone forms the mosque. Quran inscriptions are carved into its stone walls. Lotus buds embellish the arches. Ornamental medallions adorn the dome’s facade. Khizr Khan, son of Alauddin Khalji, built it. He was a follower of Nizamuddin.
At the back entrance, you will find a baoli. It is a stepwell commissioned by Nizamuddin. People believe its waters have magical powers. They bathe in it with reverence. Legend says workers built it at night. This was because Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq forbade them. When he restricted their oil, they lit lamps with the baoli’s water.
The tombs of Amir Khusrau and Jehan Ara Begum lie at the entrance. Ziauddin Barani and Muhammad Shah are also buried here. Over 70 graves reside within the dargah complex.
Muhammad bin Tughluq built Nizamuddin’s tomb in 1325. This followed Nizamuddin’s death. Firuz Shah Tughlaq later repaired it. Nawab Khurshid Jah gifted the marble balustrade. Faridun Khan built the present dome in 1562. Intricate jalis surround the dargah. A wazookhana provides an ablution area.
Thousands of pilgrims visit Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah every week. They come to pray and pay their respects. The dargah is famous for its evening qawwali music sessions. These devotional sessions create an atmosphere of spiritual ecstasy. The dargah holds qawwalis every evening after the Maghrib prayer.
The neighborhood surrounding the dargah is named Nizamuddin Basti. Nizamuddin lived in the settlement of Ghiyaspur. It was later named after him.
The dargah celebrates the birth and death anniversaries of Nizamuddin and Amir Khusrau. Thousands gather on the 17th and 18th of Rabi al-awwal. The dargah also celebrates Basant Panchami. This tradition began when Khusrau wanted to make Nizamuddin smile. Nizamuddin grieved over his nephew’s death. Khusrau dressed in yellow and celebrated the onset of Basant. This made Auliya smile.
The Dua-e-Roshni is an important ritual. It takes place during the evening prayers when lamps are lit. Pilgrims gather around the caretaker. The caretaker prays for everyone’s wishes.
Death is celebrated in most Sufi orders. The dargah and tombs are lit up in the tradition of charaghan. People offer rose petals, sweets, and fragrant sheets to the tombs. They tie colorful threads on the jaalis. Each thread symbolizes a wish.
The dargah is a nerve centre of Sufi culture in India. It is a place of reverence and celebration. It is a monument of national importance. It stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Nizamuddin Auliya. His message of love continues to resonate with people of all faiths. It provides solace and inspiration. The dargah belongs to the Delhi Waqf Board. The Anjuman Peerzadan Nizamiyan Khusravi committee looks after it.