Sallah in Zaria: The glamour, the excitement
Like previous Sallah festivities, this year’s Eid-al-Adha in the ancient city of Zaria, popularly called Zazzau, in Kaduna State, came with its allure. This added to the delight of residents, dignitaries and guests of the ancient city, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.
One of the major attractions of Sallah celebration in Zaria is the traditional durbar. The Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Shehu Idris, and other princes of the Zazzau dynasty, through the durbar, demonstrate their rich cultural heritage. This usually attracts residents and guests from far and near. Diplomats and other foreigners also view the ceremonies as a recreational platform.
The first durbar that was staged on Friday, September 1, added colour to the festivities. Under normal circumstances, three durbars are staged during Sallah in Zaria. However, the Zazzau Emirate staged two durbars for this year’s Eid-al-Adha. The Hawan Sallah durbar was staged on Friday and the Hawan Daushe durbar would be staged later today. The Hawan Bariki durbar that was supposed to take place on Saturday, September 2, was shelved.
As tradition demands, immediately after the Eid prayers at the Kofar Doka, the emir would ride on horseback - or on a horse-drawn cart - to his palace, which is a journey of about 10 kilometres. As the emir takes his seat in a special historic pavilion, Kafen Daudu, district heads on horsebacks, would while demonstrating horse riding skills, pledge allegiance to him. This usually entertains spectators and usually attracts cheers and applause.
An official document released by the Zazzau palace revealed that 138 entourages of district heads and other princes took part in the Friday durbar. One after the other, all the entourages openly pledged loyalty to the emir.
Yesterday (Saturday) was supposed to be for Hawan Bariki. Traditionally, as early as 8am, the emir and his entourage, accompanied by all the district heads, would depart the palace to the Kaduna State Government House at the Government Reserved Area (GRA), Sabon Gari, in Zaria, to pay homage to the Kaduna State Governor or his representative.
According to the Chief Protocol Officer to the Emir, Alhaji Abubakar Ladan, Ciroman Shantali, the Hawan Bariki was incorporated in the Zazzau tradition with the advent of colonialism in Nigeria.
He said, “The Emir of Zazzau uses the occasion to meet the governor and present his annual report to him. This occasion is an opportunity for the emir to present the needs of the people to the authority. It also serves as an avenue of taking stock to review the previous year and make preparation for the coming year.”
However, Hawan Bariki did not take place during the Eid-al-Fitr and this Sallah. Although, no official reason was given, but Hawan Bariki is usually characterised by political intrigues, as politicians at all levels, use the forum for one manoeuvre or the other.
Hawan Daushe, which is the last in the series of Sallah durbars, is taking place today. It is a gathering that brings people from all walks of life in Nigeria and abroad to the Zazzau palace.
A resident of Zaria, Musa Shehu, once described Sallah without Hawan Daushe as soup without salt or tea without sugar.
Shehu said, “Many residents don’t wear their new clothes until the day of Hawan Daushe. It is regarded as the most important day because it brings people from villages of Zaria to the city. It is a gathering that unites friends and families. Many residents make new friends on the day. In fact, some marriages have their roots from Hawan Daushe. Young people have opportunity to appreciate their traditions and values. They know their history and where they come from through the Hawan Daushe durbar.
“As you can see, even foreigners are here and are being entertained by this rich culture. Other Nigerians come here and they appreciate our culture. This is why the Hawan Daushe durbar is a thing of pride for us. When insurgency forced the stoppage of the cultural display, Sallah became less attractive. Traders that made brisk business during the festival were denied that opportunity. In fact, Sallah became soup without salt or tea without sugar.”
Traditionally, after the afternoon obligatory prayers, the emir, in company of his district heads, moves out from the palace on horseback to go round the ancient city. Hawan Daushe provides an opportunity for residents to meet the emir face to face.
After the traditional rounds, the emir will go back to the palace and the princes will once again pay homage. During Hawan Daushe, the princes engage in a competition trying to outshine one another in horse riding skills and display of royal regalia. At the end, the best district head would be selected. With Hawan Daushe durbar today, this year’s Eid-al-Adha Sallah festivity would be rounded up in Zaria.
Before the durbars, residents took part in the two Raka’at Eid prayers on Friday morning. Attired in their best clothes, male and female, young and old, residents; as early as 7am, trooped to various Eid grounds. The Emir, Alhaji Shehu Idris, observed the Eid prayers at the Kofar Doka Eid ground.
In his address, the Emir, Alhaji Shehu Idris, reemphasised his usual call on residents to continue to cooperate with security agencies in order to consolidate on the gains of maintaining law and order in the Zazzau Emirate and the state in general.
“I want to also use this medium to call on people to always provide security agencies with genuine information about drugs selling points in order to flush them out. Collective effort is required to ensure a drug-free society and indeed provide a platform for useful future leaders, the emir said.
He urged the federal and state governments to buy excess farm produce from farmers to assist people in the event of scarcity.
Alhaji Idris further said, “We must thank Allah Almighty who answered our prayers for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari. I want to plead with you all to continue praying for Allah to give him wisdom, strength and the political will to deliver the goods and peace across Nigeria.”
Similarly, the Chief Imam of the Dakace Zaria Eid ground, Ustaz Usman Mas’ud, urged Muslims to always ponder on the essence of their creation by Allah. He said mankind was created in order to worship Allah and earn a palace in paradise. He said this could only be achieved if people did good and avoided evil.
Security arrangement put in place by various agencies contributed immensely to the peaceful celebrations.