DARGAH

A 'dargah' (Persian: درگه) is a Sufi shrine built over the grave of a revered religious figure, often a Sufi saint. Local Muslims visit the shrine known as (''ziyarat''). Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels, known as ''khanqah''. They often include a mosque, meeting rooms, schools (Madrassas), residences for a teacher or caretaker, hospitals, and other buildings for community purposes.
The term is derived from a Persian word which can mean, among other uses, "portal" or "threshold". Many Muslims believe that dargahs are portals by which they can invoke the deceased saint's intercession and blessing (see Tawassul).
Shrines are found in many Muslim communities throughout the world, and called by many names (see Ziyarat). The term ''dargah'' is common in the Persian-influenced Islamic world, notably Iran and South Asia.
In South Africa, the term is used to describe shrines in the Durban area where there is a strong Indian presence, while the term ''keramat'' is more commonly used in Cape Town, where there is a strong Cape Malay culture.
In the Indian subcontinent, dargahs are often the site of festivals (Milad) held in honor of the deceased saint at the date of his Urs, which is a day dedicated to the saint which usually falls on the saint's death anniversary. The shrine is illuminated with candles or strings of electric lights.
For a list of dargahs, see Ziyarat.

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