By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: As the rays of sun grew dimmer on 12th Rabiul Awwal in Mumbai the processions of Eid-e-Milad Un Nabi and the bystanders witnessed an exemplary increase. No sooner did darkness spread than the magnificent buildings and roads overflowing with people stood in its contrast shimmering with electric bulbs. The south Mumbai echoing with the slogans of ‘Nara-e-Takbeer, Allah-u-Akbar’ and ‘Nara-e-Risalat, Ya Rasulullah’ celebrated the Eid with elite and fervor.
The juloos taken out from Khilafat House of Byculla wherein hundreds of small juloos managed by different madrasas and organizations were merged kicked off at late afternoon on Rabiul Awwal 12 in the leadership of different political entities and religious personalities including the local Congress MP Milind Deora, chairman of Maulana Azad Minority Financial Development Corporation Ameen Patel, chairman Aqdas Welfare Society and the south Mumbai BSP nominee Muhammad Ali Shaikh, former Wakf Board chairperson M A Aziz and Maulana Tanweer Hashmi etc.
From right M. A. Aziz, second from left Md Ali Saikh, Ameen Patel
Besides the hoardings hanged by political leaders welcoming the participants leaping to the loud musical lyric ‘Allah Janta Hai Muhammad Ka Martaba’ (Only Allah knows the true status of Muhammad) and ‘Khwaja Mera Data Hai Deta Hai Bila Mange, Jo Koi Bhee Jata Hai Khali Naheen Aata (Khwaja is the benefactor who gives without question. Whoever approaches him does not return empty handed.), different stages arranged by political parties, some of them by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and various social and religious organizations extended to them warm welcome.
It is to be noticed that hundreds of hoardings having hadees of Prophet Muhammad (saws) were hanged in Urdu, Hindi and English (transliteration of Urdu version of Hadees) on both the sides of Muhammad Ali Road. This was an attempt to popularize the sayings of Muhammad (saws) carried out by Friends Active Social Team (FAST) and Raza Academy.
A view of the juloos
From left Maulana Tanweer Hashmi, M A Aziz, Milind Deora
The juloos attended by thousands of devotees kept on moving till midnight. While it was heading slowly the women standing besides the roadsides and some others peeping out of their residence revealed how much emotional attachment they had to the so-called religious celebration.
Speaking to a mob Tanweer Hashmi said it is the biggest juloos of the Asia. He said, ‘The contribution of non-Muslims in arranging the procession is a good omen of Muslim-Hindu unity in future.’ He requested to always maintain the same spirit of brotherhood.