Popularly known as the ‘Dargah of Banjari wale Baba’, a Muslim Saint Syed Sher Ali Agha shrine in Raipur has attracted people from all faiths. Devotees cutting across religious lines throng the Shrine to seek the blessing of the holy saint. Hindus consider it as a temple and Muslims as the abode of Allah. As per tradition, Hindus offer coconuts at the Shrine, showing their love and respect towards the saint. The saint Syed Sher Ali Agha is believed to have come from Afghanistan in 1965. After that, he started staying near Banjari Wala Mandir in Raipur, where he became famous for his miracles. Slowly, people, irrespective of their caste and community, started visiting the saint’s residence to seek his blessings. After the saint’s demise in 1982, people constructed a Shrine by his name. The Shrine has thus become an exemplar of religious unity where people from different faiths leave aside their differences to fulfill their wishes.
