Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in New Delhi earlier this evening for a historic 10-day Diamond Jubilee visit to India. He was received by Chief of Protocol Shri Sanjay Verma, Joint Secretary Shri Deepak Mittal, and Jamati leaders in India.

Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit is at the official invitation of the Government of India, and coincides with the commemoration of his Diamond Jubilee. During his stay in the country, he is expected to meet a number of national and state government representatives, and is also scheduled to attend the inauguration of Sunder Nursery in Delhi tomorrow, 21 February.

The Sunder Nursery is a 90-acre city park in Delhi, adjacent to Humayun's Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The 16th century heritage garden complex has undergone restoration by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, as part of the wider Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative. The project has significantly contributed to the improvement of the quality of life for people in the area, while creating important new green spaces for the people of Delhi and beyond.

Mawlana Hazar Imam is also expected to meet with the Jamat in various regions of the country, and grant a Diamond Jubilee Darbar. Hazar Imam last visited India in 2015, when he was bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civil decorations, in recognition for his contributions to social development in India.