Mowlid

Mowlid
Observances
Mawlid is celebrated in most Muslim countries, andin other countries
where Muslims have a
presence, such as India, Britain, Russia[16] and Canada.[17][18]
[19][20][21][22 ][23][24][25] Saudi Arabia is the only Muslim country
where Mawlid is not an official public holiday.[26] Participation in
the ritual celebration of popular Islamic holidays is seen as an
expression of the Islamic revival.[27]
Where Mawlid is celebratedin a carnival manner, large street
processions are held and homes or mosques aredecorated. Charity and
foodis distributed, and stories about the life of Muhammad are
narrated with recitation of poetry bychildren.[28][2 9][30] Scholars
and poets celebrate by reciting Qaṣīdaal-Burda Sharif, the famouspoem
by 13th century Arabic Sufi Busiri.
During Pakistan's Mawlid celebration, the national flag is hoisted on
all public buildings, and a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and a 21-gun
salute at the provincial headquarters arefired at dawn. The cinemas
shows religious rather thansecular films on 11th and 12th
Rabi-ul-Awwal.H undreds of thousands of people gather at
Minar-e-Pakista n Lahore betweenthe intervening night of 11th and 12th
Rabi' al-awwal for Mawlid celebrations , this is the worlds biggest
gathering for Mawlid celebrations.[3 1]
Among non-Muslim countries, India is noted forits Mawlid
festivities.[32 ][33][34] The relics of Muhammad are displayed after
the morning prayers in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir at the
Hazratbal Shrine, on the outskirts of Srinagar. Shab-khawani
night-long prayers held at the Hazratbal Shrine are attended by
thousands.[35]
Other non-Muslim countries noted for its Mawlid festivities are Kenya
and Tanzania where it is known as "Maulidi". In Kenya, the most famous
place is the coastal island of Lamu[36][37][38 ] and Malindi. In
Tanzania the largest celebrations are on the island of Zanzibar.[39][4
0]
In many parts of Indonesia,the celebration of the Mawlid al-nabi
"seems to surpass in importance, liveliness, and splendour" the two
official Islamic holidays of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.[41] The
Indonesian Javanese week-long Sekaten ceremony commemmorates Mawlid in
the Sultanate of Yogyakarta.