1. FESTIVAL OF MADAR.--Sayyid Badr-ud-din Kutb-ul-Madar is said to have descended from the Imam Husain. He was born at Aleppo about A.D. 1050, and received from Muhammad permission to "hold his breath" (Habs-i-dam). Thus he was able to live to a good old age. He is said to have had 1,442 sons, and to have died when upwards of 300 years old. More rational people explain the number of his sons by saying they were his spiritual children. The length of his life is explained by saying that as each man has to make a certain number of inspirations, the less frequently he does it the longer he will live. Jawan in his account of {259} the festival states: "The tomb of Madar is at Makanpur, a place about forty miles from Cawnpore." On the seventeenth of the month Jamadi-ul-Awwal an immense crowd fills the village which is illuminated at night. Fires are lighted, around which Fakirs dance, and through which they leap calling out "Dam Madar, Dam Madar," (breath of Madar.) An order of Fakirs, called Madaria, look to this Saint as their patron. In distant places where this feast is kept they set up an Alam, or standard in honour of the Saint, and perform ceremonies common to such days. The nights are spent in celebrating his praises, &c. 2. FESTIVAL OF MU'IN-UD-DIN CHISTI.[264]--The tomb of this Saint is in Ajmir. He was a Syed descended from Husain, the son of 'Ali, and was born in Sajistan about the year 537 A.H. His father died when he was about fifteen years old. Soon after this he fell in with a famous Fakir, Ibrahim Qanduzi, through whose influence he began to seek the Tariqat, or mystical road to the knowledge of God. When he was twenty years of age he received further instruction from the famous 'Abd-ul-Qadir Jilani. After the conquest of Hindustan by Shahab-ud-din Ghori, Mu'in-ud-din retired to Ajmir, where he died in the odour of sanctity 636 A.H. Pilgrimages to this tomb have been and are very popular. Emperors and people vied with each other in doing honour to the memory of this saint. Even Akbar, sceptic though he was as regards orthodox Islam, made a pilgrimage to this shrine, and offered vows that he might have a son who would live to manhood. Hindus also visit this tomb and presents from rich men of this class are not unusual.