Ajmer, April 7: When Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari arrives at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti here tomorrow, he will be gifted flowers and not the ceremonial sword that was traditionally presented to visiting heads of state or government even 12 years ago.

“Flowers symbolise friendship; swords don’t. A gift of flowers will fit the context better,” Hisamuddin Niazi, president of the shrine’s khadims (priests), told The Telegraph.

“The dargah has always been a source of India-Pakistan dialogue. We will pray for the prosperity of both countries and their friendship.”

The old custom was abandoned in the new millennium, just before an aborted trip by then Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, after leaders such as Zia-ul Haq, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi were given the swords.

Niazi said Zardari would be paying a “personal visit” to pray for his safety and an improvement in the restive political situation in Pakistan. Zardari is also under pressure from assertive judges.

The President is to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi over lunch tomorrow before visiting Ajmer and returning to Islamabad the same day.

This will be Zardari’s second trip to the Sufi shrine since he and his late wife Benazir Bhutto came here in 2005 to offer thanks for a wish fulfilled: his release from jail after eight years. Niazi was certain there would be a third visit for another thanksgiving, “as everybody’s wishes are always fulfilled here”.

A white shamiana has been erected on the road leading to the shrine’s main gate, and the dargah’s interiors have been given a facelift. The nagadas — huge ceremonial drums atop the main entrance — are being fine-tuned.

In a tradition stretching back to the Mughal era, visiting state guests are welcomed to the 13th-century shrine with the beating of the drums.

“The four drum-beaters will keep on playing till Zardari leaves after a half-hour’s prayer,” said Syed Iqbal Kaptan Chishty, one of the 2,000-odd khadims who claim to be the Khwaja’s descendants.

Officials from the Pakistani embassy in Delhi have been camping here to oversee security arrangements. Hundreds of policemen have been posted across the city, while snipers and commandos will be deployed tomorrow morning.

“Two hours before Zardari’s visit, the shrine will be cleared of common devotees,” a police officer said.

In April 2005, Zardari and Benazir had sat inside the shrine’s sanctum and performed ziyarat (ritual prayers) for two hours before offering a chadar at the grave, Iqbal Chishty said. It was Benazir’s fourth visit and came within months of Musharraf’s belated trip to the dargah.

During her previous trip in 2003, Benazir had prayed for her husband’s release and then taken out $3,500 and handed it to Iqbal Chishty, who had performed the prayers.

“This time too I am expecting nazrana (donations) from Zardari,” the priest added.

The expected nazrana from Zardari had triggered a behind-the-scenes tussle between two groups of priests, one led by Iqbal Chishty who claims to be the family khadim of the Bhuttos and the other by Natiq Chishti, who says he’s the family khadim of Musharraf.

Eventually, Pakistani embassy officials intervened to settle the dispute. It has now been decided that Iqbal Chishty will perform the ziyarat and receive the nazrana from Zardari while Natiq Chishti, who performed the prayers during Musharraf’s visit, would receive donations from the visiting embassy officials.

Traditionally, the nazrana goes to the khadim performing the ziyarat, and part of the money is spent towards facilities for pilgrims.

The priests still remember how Musharraf had planned to visit the dargah during the Agra summit of 2001 but cancelled the trip after the talks failed.

“Everybody was very angry with him for not keeping his word,” Iqbal Chishty said. The anger melted when the military ruler eventually came four years later.

“Irade roz bante hain magar tut jate hain; Ajmer wahi atein hain jinhen Khwaja bulate hain (Decisions to visit the shrine are made and broken every day; only those visit Ajmer whom the Khwaja summons),” Iqbal Chishty said.

Among world leaders who prayed at the dargah were Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Sheikh Hasina Wajed and Begum Khaleda Zia. Pakistan foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar came last year.