Old City celebates Hazrat Syedna Ali
The birth anniversary of Hazrat Syedna Ali ibn Abi Talib, son-inlaw of Prophet Muhammed and a revered figure in the Islamic world, was celebrated with gaiety here on Friday. He is respected by both Sunni and Shia Muslims for his honesty, belief, courage, knowledge, loyalty to the Prophet and devotion to Islam.
Followers of both sects in the Old City observed the day and organised different programmes while there were congregations at mosques, dargahs, khanqas and aashoorkhanas.
To mark the day, ulemas of different schools of thought paid glowing tributes to the abstinence and achievements of Syedna Ali. They highlighted excerpts from the life of the Imam and described his sacrifices for the glorification of Islam.
Shia-dominated areas like Darushifa, Noor Khan Bazaar, Dabeerpura, Etebar Chowk, Yakutpura and Mandi Mir Alam were bathed in red with flags and buntings. Houses and offices were duly decorated. Several youth wore red shirts and kurtas to symbolise the birth of Hazrat Ali.
As part of the celebrations, processions were taken out from different places in the Old City to Koh-e-Moula Ali at Malkajgiri.
The Sehra (festoon) procession was also taken out by Shia organisations to Koh-eMoula Ali. Podiums were set up along the route and they were welcomed by political and community leaders.
Union minister for social justice, Ramdas Athawale attended a meeting at Hyderabad Press Club, which was organised by Firasat Ali Baqri of the BJP Minority Morcha. He cut a cake on the occasion of the 1466th birth anniversary of Imam Ali.
MIM MLC Riyaz-ulHasan Effendi, corporators Nasreen Sultana, Alamdar Walajahi and former chairman of SETWIN Inayat Ali Baqri and others paid floral tributes during the Sehra procession.