Both Asif Ali Zardari and his son Bilawal arrived at the Ajmer dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti wearing dark achkans, a change from their Delhi attire. Mr Zadari got a red-carpet welcome as a head of state, and offered a 42-metre red chadar (from Ajmer) and a special green chadar brought from Pakistan.
He had last visited Ajmer with his wife, late Benazir Bhutto, in 2005. In 2003, when he was in prison, Benazir Bhutto had come here to pray for her husband’s early release.
After offering chadars and prayers, the Pakistan President wrote in the Anjuman Dargah diary: “The soulful happiness I have experienced at this holy place is beyond description. I pray to Allah to make life easy for the entire humanity.” An aide announced Mr Zardari had donated $1 million for the shrine.
Mr Zardari stayed at the dargah 20 minutes. He performed fateha (supplication) and toured the premises, which has mosques, graves of Khwaja’s disciples, a pool and two big cauldrons used to cook food during the annual urs.
As soon as he arrived, the President was offered a sofa to help him remove his shoes, which can’t be worn inside.
A chadar was also presented by minister-in-waiting Pawan Kumar Bansal on behalf of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.