New Delhi
A young doctor from Kerala, Shihab Chittur, who is walking to Makkah for performing Hajj pilgrimage next year, and is being followed by people for his devotion and spiritual endeavour, prayed at Khwaja Moinnuddin Chishty's dargah at Ajmer, Rajasthan on the Independence day.
Thousands of locals walked with him as he entered the shrine of Ajmer Sharif on Monday to pray and seek the Sufi Saint’s blessings for his eight-month journey across five countries to reach Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Ajmer police had made special arrangements for them. Also, on the personal front, even policemen wished him success as they seemed overawed by his spiritual journey. Chittur ‘s journey is chronicled in social media and that is how people know about his arrival in their places and get ready to welcome the pilgrim in every city, town, and village.
Shihab Chittur accompanied by police officials and paying obesiance at the Ajmer Dargah
Shihab Chittur, 29, left Kerala 75 days ago. Presently, he is passing through Rajasthan. Soon he is expected to enter Punjab and finally cross the border at Attari to enter Pakistan.
He left home in July 2022 to perform Hajj next year (March 2023). He is walking about 25 km daily and plans to travel 8,500 km distance through Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Kuwait in more than eight months to reach his destination in time for the Hajj.
Shihab was moved by the hospitality and care shown by the Police for him and posted this on Twitter:
Chittur is always followed by an ambulance.
Chittur’s journey has become unique in the sense that despite being a personal spiritual journey, because of social media, it has become a movement for the unity of people and religions. His journey has brought out the best of India –respect for religions, faith in spirituality, and the human spirit.
Above all Chittur’s journey was made possible due to the cooperation of government agencies right from the people sitting in the ministry of external affairs who got him requisite permissions to cross the countries to those showing solidarity with him be it the villagers, townfolks, and city dwellers. Those flocking him are from all religions and strata of society.
He is touched by the love and affection of people and said in so many words in this poster release on Twitter:
Shihab admits he had no idea that his journey would attract so much attention. I am grateful for the vigilance and love showed not only by the people but also by the administration and the police.
A Policewoman in Ajmer greeting Chittur
The administration is cautious about his safety.
Public, police and senior officials are taking selfies with Chittur and cheering him up. At places, he has been showered with rose petals by the public. Chittur says he is overwhelmed to get so much love from the public.
Shihab Chittur’s 8500 km journey from Kerala to Makkah is the first of its kind in the 21st century.
Shihab Chittur took to Twitter to thank the Rajasthan Police for their hospitality. The Police accompanied him from the highway to the city. Earlier, the Gujarat Police had also given him VIP status. While Police are taking care of Chittur’s security, the officers of the administration visit him at his camping sites.
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