Journey to India - The Urs of Sufi Inayat Khan February
4-7, 2009
In February, 2009,
the Sufi Way will be arranging the activities and ceremonies for the Urs
of Pir-o-Murshid Sufi Inayat Khan at his beautiful Dargah (memorial compound)
in New Delhi. An Urs - the word means wedding - commemorates the passing
of a spiritual leader and is celebrated as a happy and holy event.
The Urs activities will start on February 4 with a program of orientation
and attunement, followed by days full of gatherings, meditations, talks,
and music. A summary of the programs is given below.
For those who have never seen Pir-o-Murshid's resting place, that itself
is a reason to come. The Dargah is beautiful, serene, and ineffably alive.
Some people coming from the West are planning to travel through parts of
India following the Urs celebrations. Possible itineraries of interest along
with other logistical and travel information
are on the bottum of this page.
Outline of the Program
-
Wed, Feb 4th: Orientation and Attunement
Morning: Informal Gathering and welcome
Afternoon: Orientation - three speakers talk about Delhi and its history, the uniqueness of Nizamuddin village; and Chishti Sufi poetry and music
Evening: Attunement - Stories and music from the life of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan
- Thurs, Feb 5th:
Urs
Morning: Urs ritual prayers, processions, blessings and Qawwali
Afternoon: Universal Worship
After Dinner: Night Vigil in the Dargah Sufi Inayat, with zikr, silence, music and prayer
- Fri, Feb 6th:
Mixed programs
Morning: Children's Program, followed by distribution of Langar (community kitchen)
Afternoon: Music Program by students of the Hazrat Inayat Khan Music Academy
Late afternoon: Sufi Caravan - talks by Sufi teachers from different countries
Evening: Friday qawwali at Dargah Sufi Inayat
Post-Dinner: Classical Indian Music recitals
- Sat 7th: Mixed
programs
Morning: Sufi Caravan - talks by Sufi teachers from different countries
Afternoon: Sufi Caravan - talks by Sufi teachers from different countries
Evening: Western music concert
Post-dinner (a late night): Sufiana music from across India
-
Starting Sunday, February 8 onward, people are on their own; we will offer some ideas for day trips for people who want to visit Sufi sites in and around Delhi, or for those who want to visit scenic spots close to Delhi and return that night.
Travel & Accommodation
India flights: We recommend people arrange their own flights. If you would like to coordinate a group from your country, a local travel agent may help you and offer a discounted fare or a free ticket.
Trips within India: The website offers links to travel agents who can arrange trips. You may also find there some "Sufi pilgrimage" itineraries with suggestions for travel and stay, as well as a list of websites that may help you to plan your own trip. Let us know if you are looking for a small group or travel partner for a specific itinerary, and we will do our best to connect you with someone with similar interests.
List of Hotels and Guest Houses suggested for visitors to the program for the
Urs of Hazrat Sufi Inayat Khan, February 4-7, 2009 (for a printable version, clic here)
New Delhi has a number of Guest Houses, which are used by budget travelers who
don't need the additional services provided at hotels. Some Guest Houses are bed-
and-breakfast places - though sometimes without breakfast - others are small inns,
with no obvious presence of or connection with a family living there. Still, in general,
these are more affordable than hotels and a little more personal.
On my recent visit to Delhi I checked out a few recommended guest houses and
reserved some rooms there. These are listed below; please let me know if you want
a room there and I'll book it for you tell you if space is available or help you find one
elsewhere.
You might be able to contact other guest houses directly or book at one of the small
hotels listed. In the past few years hotel prices in the area had really gone up. This
year they have come down a bit (though Guest House rates have gone up!) and you
might be able to find some really nice hotel deals online. Last year I had the best
experience booking hotels over TravelGuru, reasonable luck booking them through
Expedia and bad luck booking them on Orbitz. However, there are a number of
websites that'll work … I'd suggest looking for hotels or guest houses in South Delhi.
I haven't listed any hotels in two areas that have a number of tourist-oriented hotels:
Karol Bagh and Pahar Ganj, near the New Delhi Railway Station. These areas are
both vibrant and full of very Indian life, shopping and other tourists. However, I feel
Karol Bagh is just too far from the Dargah. Delhi traffic has become unpredictably
dense and the commute to the Dargah from Karol Bagh could be 30-45 minutes.
Also, the Karol Bagh "experience" that Delhi-ites enjoy (narrow and very crowded
lanes, open colorful shops, lots of inexpensive fabrics and street stalls) is now
available close by, in Lajpat Nagar. Many budget travelers from the West stay in
Pahar Ganj - some have regular "digs" there - but there are so many hotels and it is
so budget-tourist oriented that I feel it is almost not Delhi. It is also 25-35 minutes
away on a good day.
Here's a list of the guest houses I've checked out and pre-reserved rooms at. All
prices are in Indian rupees (INR), include tax, and should be accurate but we'll
reconfirm prices when you make the booking. Double/S means a double room with
single occupancy; Double/D means a double room with double occupancy. Breakfast
is included as mentioned; other meals are available in most places for an additional
charge.
Retreat House at the Dargah compound - Booked out through Feb 9
During Urs Program, February 4-7
Single 1250 + 10% service charge
Double/s 1350 + 10%
Double/D 1550 + 10%
After Urs dates:
Single 1350 + 10%
Double/s 1550 + 10%
Double/D 1850 + 10%
Breakfast included
Najmi Guest House in Basti Nizamuddin
2 minutes walk from the Dargah; a place that many guests visiting the Dargah
stay at; simple and clean accommodation.
Single 1250 + 10% service charge
Double/single occupancy 1350 + 10% service charge
Double/double occupancy 1550 + 10% service charge
Triple 1850 + 10% service charge
Breakfast included
Likir House in Lajpat Nagar
A clean guest house with a nice atmosphere run by Buddhist Ladakhis, about
10 minutes from the Dargah by auto-rickshaw or taxi, 25 minutes walking.
On the edge of Lajpat Nagar, before you hit the joy and frenzy that is the market.
Single 1200
Double 1500
Suite 2000 (basically a double with extra sitting space)
Extra bed 300
Meals extra: breakfast 150 / lunch or dinner 250 veg and 300 non-veg
A-17 in Defence Colony
A somewhat more upscale guest house in a more upscale residential area, also about
10 minutes from the Dargah by auto-rickshaw or taxi, 25 minutes walking.
The price below is a special discounted rate and payment will need to be made
through an agent.
Single 2339
Double 2834
Breakfast extra: 66 continental / 77 Indian / 88 american
Almost Home in Greater Kailash II
Also somewhat more upscale, some distance from the dargah - 20 minutes by taxi
on a good day and time, more usually 30 minutes by taxi and 40 minutes by
auto-rickshaw. Full disclosure: this belongs to and is operated by my cousins.
Double/standard size: 2000
Double/extra large: 2500 (only one)
Breakfast included, TV in every room, wireless internet in house
========================================================
Additional Guest Houses
Tourist Holiday Home, 7, Link Rd, Jangpura … Phone 24327546, 26874110
Adler Guest House, E-5, Jangpura Extension ... 2400-3000 per night …
Phone 98110-05638
27 Jorbagh, Jorbagh … Single 4268; Double 5268 … Phone 2469-8475
Sai Villa B&B, E-578, Greater Kailash II … 3150-3450 per room …
Phone: 09811069943,
Guest rooms at Habitat Centre and India International Centre … approx rates are
3500 single and 4300 double plus 12.5% tax
Maharani Guest House, Sundar Nagar … Phone 2435-9521
Jukaso Inn, 49/50 Sunder Nagar Phone: 2435-0308/09
La Sangrita Tourist Home, 14 Sunder Nagar Phone: 24601249, 24698572
Aurobindo Ashram Guest House, Sri Aurobindo Marg, 656-9225
Some hotels (best to book online after research)
Hotel Marina, G59 Connaught Circus Phone: 2332-4658
Nirula's, L-Block, Connaught Circus Phone: 2341-7419, 5151-7071/77
Vikram Hotel, Lajpat Nagar … 6500 and up, plus tax … Phone 4651-5151
-
Specific queries, suggestions, and to share contacts and useful information
Email Kiran Rana at kiransrana@gmail.com; please preface the subject with
"Urs 2009".