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 19, 2026 (EDT 17:17).
Anchor links covering pre-arrival news and information about His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to India
- August 18, 2026: Message from the President of the Aga Khan Council for India
- August 8, 2026 to Current: Essential Details
- August 7, 2026: Ismailis in India celebrate news of His Highness the Aga Khan’s upcoming visit
- August 7, 2026: His Highness the Aga Khan announces official visit to India in a Talika Mubarak
- Historical Notes: Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s visit to India in 2024 and Prime Minister Modi’s post on X following the passing of Mawlana Shah Karim
- Ginan: A Supplication to the Imam of the Time
_____________
August 18, 2026:Video message from the President of the Aga Khan Council for India
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.
~~~~~~~~
Map highlighting Hazar Imam’s visit to India
_____________
August 8, 2026 to Current: India Visit Essential Details
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.
- India Visit: Auditions for the ISMAILI UPDATE feature on the Ismaili website
- India Visit: Khelo Jamat (khelo means play)
- India Visit: OneCall — Jamati Access Line
- India Visit: Didar Registration
- India Visit: Registration Eligibility
- India Visit: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- India Visit: Wara (Recitation) Auditions
_____________
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.
_____________
August 7,2026: His Highness the Aga Khan announces visit to India
(includes subsequent media coverage)
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
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
- The Ismaili India Instagram: Messages from Ismaili leaders of India
- The Tribune: Shia Ismaili Muslims head Mawlana Hazar Imam to visit India on PM Modi’s invitation
- The Ismaili: Mawlana Hazar Imam announces visit to India
_____________
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:
- July 27-28, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Prince Ay Muhammad in Hyderabad
- July 28-29, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Prince Aly Muhammad in Mumbai
- July 29, 2024: Prince Rahim Aga Khan at Inauguration of Humayun Tomb World Heritage Site Museum
~~~~~~~~
FEBRUARY 5, 2025: Post on X by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi
_____________
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 19, 2026.
_________________
Please click SUBSCRIBE and enter your email address to receive update notifications from Barakah. Before you leave, remember that Barakah’s editor, Malik, is here to assist you. If you have any questions or feedback, please scroll down to leave a comment or send an email to mmerchant@barakah.com. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to explore the diverse and extensive content on Barakah’s Home Page or Table of Contents, with over 350 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. And don’t forget to visit our sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos. Stay updated by following Malik on @Facebook, @X, @LinkedIn and @Instagram and by subscribing to Barakah.
Barakah 