Malik Merchant, Editor

Updated August 25: Pre-arrival coverage of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to India from September 9 to 15, 2026 – Map featuring locations of the Aga Khan’s visits; Message on Tohfa; Important details; and a Supplication

Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT

Important notice for readers: This page will be updated regularly until His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in India in September 2026. A separate page will be created to cover his visit upon his arrival. The page was last updated on August 25, 2026 (EDT 19:30).

Anchor links covering pre-arrival news and information about His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to India

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August 21, 2026: The Vice President of the Aga Khan Council for India speaks about Tohfa to His Highness the Aga Khan

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August 18, 2026: Map highlighting Hazar Imam’s visit to India and Video message from the President of the Aga Khan Council for India

Map highlighting Hazar Imam’s visit to India

Map of India
This political map of India highlights the specific locations of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit, which are circled in red — viz. New Delhi (Government meetings); and a total of six Didar session as follows: Gandhinagar, Ahmedabad (for a total of 3 Didar sessions in Gujarat), Mumbai (2 sessions), and Hyderabad (1 session).These details were announced by the President of the Aga Khan Council for India (please watch his speech HERE). Photograph: Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas. Note: The map has been annotated to indicate the locations Mawlana Hazar Imam will visit.

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Message from the President

In a special message ahead of Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s upcoming visit to India from September 9 to 15, 2026, Asif Porbanderwala, the President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for India, shares a heartfelt message in Gujarati and English, reflecting on the historic significance of this visit. The theme of the visit is Tohfa — an expression of faith, commitment and gratitude to Mawlana Hazar Imam.

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August 8, 2026 to Current: India Visit Essential Details

Motif of Aga Khan's visit to Ismailis worldwide

Following the announcement of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s upcoming visit to India in September 2026, the Ismaili Institutions in India have begun publishing essential details, information, and programs related to the visit. Please use the following links for direct access to information on the official Ismaili website. Barakah will update this section regularly.

  1. India Visit: Tohfa (tribute, gift, offered by the Jamat to Mawlana Hazar Imam)
  2. India Visit: Auditions for the ISMAILI UPDATE feature on the Ismaili website
  3. India Visit: Khelo Jamat (khelo means play)
  4. India Visit: OneCall — Jamati Access Line
  5. India Visit: Didar Registration
  6. India Visit: Registration Eligibility
  7. India Visit: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  8. India Visit: Wara (Recitation) Auditions

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August 7, 2026: Ismailis of India celebrate news of His Highness the Aga Khan’s upcoming visit

Celebrations erupted at various Ismaili Jamatkhanas across India following the announcement on August 7 regarding Mawlana Hazar Imam’s upcoming visit in September 2026. Below is a short video capturing the fireworks around the Methan Jamatkhana.

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August 7,2026: His Highness the Aga Khan announces visit to India
(includes subsequent media coverage)

Aga Khan giving Didar in Calgary
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, addresses the Jamat at a Didar in Calgary, Alberta, July 24, 2026. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.

In a Talika Mubarak (holy written message) read in Jamatkhanas across India and other parts of the world on August 7, 2026, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, announced that he would undertake an official visit to India in September 2026 at the invitation of the Government of India. He expressed his eagerness to meet with the India Jamat.

Story continues below

Motif of Aga Khan's visit to Ismailis worldwide
The motif representing Nur or Light, which is being used for Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s inaugural visits to Ismaili Muslims around the world. Photograph: The Ismaili

Mawlana Hazar Imam has asked members of his community from other countries not to travel to India during his visit. In his Talika to the India Jamat, he extended his warmest and most affectionate blessings to all “his dearest spiritual children of the India Jamat,” assuring them that they are always in his heart, thoughts, and prayers. Other Jamats around the world received a similar Talika, which included blessings for their respective communities.

We sincerely congratulate the Jamat in India on the exciting news of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s upcoming visit.

As with his earlier visits to France, Kenya, Uganda, the USA, Portugal, the UK, Eastern Canada, Pakistan, Germany and, most recently, Western Canada (click on the links for Barakah’s special coverage of the 10 trips), we are dedicated to providing full coverage of the upcoming India visit. This page will feature information about pre-arrival activities, programs, and preparations, which will be announced soon by the Aga Khan Ismaili Council in India and the local councils in the regions he will be visiting.

MEDIA COVERAGE

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Historical notes: 2024 and 2025

JULY 2024: See the photo below and read more about Mawlana Hazar Imam’s last visit to India as Prince Rahim, representing his father, Mawlana Shah Karim, at the following links:

Prince Rahim Aga Khan addressed guests at a ceremony on July 28, 2024, to mark the completion of the restoration work at Qutb Shahi Heritage Park in Hyderabad, Barakah
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, then Prince Rahim Aga Khan, addresses guests at a ceremony on July 28, 2024, to mark the completion of the restoration work at Qutb Shahi Heritage Park in Hyderabad, India. Photograph: AKDN.

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FEBRUARY 5, 2025: Post on X by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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Ginan: A perennial supplication to the Imam-of-the-Time from all his spiritual children worldwide

Transliteration

Eji, Aash Karine Ya Ali hun tere dar ubhi,
Kar jodine em mangu Ya Shah;
Dejo didar tusi mahavar datar Shah,
Hama tere charane lagu.

Translation

With hope I stand at Thy door,
O Ali! And sincerely beg of Thee;
Bless me with Thy Holy Didar,
O Great Lord and Benefactor!
At Thy Feet I fall to prostrate

and

O Exalted Islam Shah [Imam-of-the-Time]
Our Lord and Master of the Age,
To you our hearts devoutly supplicate,
O the Eternal King and Lord of our souls!
Grace us with your visit to the Indian Subcontinent
[The Imam’s base at the time was in Iran.]
O Ali! You are Eternal,
You are the Lord of Eternity.
You alone are the Knower of the End,
Of the End that has no End

(Verses from Venti Ginan and Anant Akhado composed by Pir Hasan Kabirdin)

Date posted: August 7, 2026.
Last updated: August 25, 2026.

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