Shab-e-Baraat observed with traditional fervor

The night of mid-Shabaan, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, known as Shab-e-Baraat, or the night of deliverance, was observed with traditional fervour.

People went in droves to visit the graves of their relatives and near and dear ones. Vendors selling flower petals and incense made quick profits from the arrival of guests, while caretakers of the graves were running around with buckets of water to clean the graves and earn some tip.

Families with women and children were prominent as it is these few days that they can come to visit the dear departed ones. Religious, political and philanthropic organisations had made special arrangements to facilitate people coming to graveyards.

Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) Administrator Murtaza Wahab had ordered cleaning of 39 cemeteries under the corporation's control.

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While, women prepared special meals for the night considered as time of benevolence, men went to mosques to offer special prayers for the special night. Though the custom is generally frowned over, young ones continued the ages old practice of setting off fire crackers.

Many religious scholars consider the cooking and distribution of sweet dishes, firecrackers and visits to the graves a shared cultural norm of different religions rather than a strictly Islamic practice.

Many mosques arranged special nightlong prayers. Religious and political organisatiosn had set up stalls for refreshments like tea and sherbet for people coming to mosques. Nevertheless, many groups of teenagers take the opportunity to spend the night out with friends enjoying tea at dhabas and free giveaway of niaz halwa.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2022.