LACK OF FERVOUR IN CITY AHEAD OF MILAD-UN-NABI

THE VIGOUR is missing. The celebrations will now be mere rituals as they have been planned and must be carried out, said a youth. MILAD-UN-NABI is the birthday of Prophet Muhammad and will be celebrated on November 10.

Much of the enthusiasm to celebrate Milad-un-Nabi has ebbed with the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict, and plunged the community into gloom. Milad-un-Nabi is the birthday of Prophet Muhammad and will be celebrated on November 10.

During the morning prayers on Saturday, there was hope and a lot of discussion that the court would be fair but the mood changed by afternoon prayers with people getting extremely upset.

Most were not willing to discuss the judgment as they were wary that it would lead to a debate within the community.

One of them said, “60 per cent of the enthusiasm has gone away.”

Mohammed Akram, a youngster, explained, “The vigour is missing. The celebrations will now be mere rituals as they have been planned and must be carried out.”

There are fairy lights on masjids, homes and shops as a part of the Milad-un-Nabi celebrations but the joy is missing.

Mr Hussain Fazil, a city resident, said, “Hamare dil mein gham hai” (there is sadness in my heart). This is going to be another date of despair for the community.”

The community is looking at it as a deliberate move to give the judgment when the festival was being celebrated in many parts of the country, and will be held in other places on Sunday.

The manner with which the judgment was delivered showed that the schedule was meticulously planned. Calls for peace had begun a month in advance, a community member pointed out.

There is uncertainty whether to put up a brave face and move on or to protest and express anger, some members of the community said.

Elders of the community continued to advocate maintaining peace, believing that it is the only way forward.