Sacred celebrations: A peaceful day of Eid Miladun Nabi festivities

Tight security measures remained in place as thousands participated in processions.

HARIPUR/ PESHAWAR/ PABBI:

The birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was celebrated across the provincial capital with much fervour on Tuesday.

Like previous years, the largest procession of the day, organised by Idara-e-Tableeghul Islam, began from Milad Chowk at around 9pm. Nearly 50,000 people took part.

Participants marched from Milad Chowk to new Rampura Gate, Chowk Yadgar, and reached Qissa Khwani Bazaar at 1:30am on Wednesday where the procession culminated.

Qaris and naat khawans had been invited from different parts of Punjab who recited the Holy Quran. Various scholars urged the Muslim Ummah to show unity of cause in the face of adversity to meet the challenges of the modern world head on.

Eid Miladun Nabi was marked by decorative lights put up in markets and on buildings, fireworks and the traditional Peshawari pulao.  Devotees distributed meals and sweets among the underprivileged throughout the day.

Tight security measures remained in place for the procession.

Haripur

To mark the Prophet’s birth, processions were taken out from Haripur, Abbottabad, Havelian, Mansehra and Battagram amid heightened security. Hundreds participated and marched along the designated routes.

Religious scholars, while citing from the life of the Prophet, stressed the need for respect of humanity, peace and unity.

The police and elite force remained deployed along various routes of the procession to avoid any untoward incident.

Nowshera

The main procession in Nowshera was taken out under the supervision of Pir Rahmat Karim. It began from Daag Ismail Khel and went towards Pabbi Bazaar where people gathered for nearly three hours before dispersing.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 16^th, 2014.