The Dawoodi Bohra community on Sunday offered prayers for their departed spiritual head Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who passed away last year. The community members gathered at Reay Road where their spiritual leader Syedna Muffaddal Saifuddin addressed them to commemorate 'Urus' or the first death anniversary.
Two mega townships have been erected to accommodate over three lakh people for the six days to observe the anniversary. "Everyone has to register online and fix the date and time at which they would like to do the Zaarat (kissing the tomb of late leader) at Ruadat Tahira (mausoleum) in Bhindi Bazaar. The Koran recitation will be relayed live across the world at all our 700 Dawoodi Bohra centres. On the first day, on Janurary 1, we showed the archival footage of one our Maula's discourses. The main day of his passing is January 6, according the Islamic Egyptian calendar," said Qurish Raghib, a media associate from the local Jamaat that is organising the event. He said that during the leaders passing, many wanted to have a last glimpse but couldn't, and thus Syedna Saifuddin expressed his desire that every Dawoodi Bohra attend the death anniversary.
Maria Fidvi, 27, has come with her family and in-laws from Nagpur. She said such an event was important to see the Maula and gather as a community. "Our late Maula did a lot for our identity and whatever we are today. I fondly remember his face and the way he spoke about how he loved us all. He was a maula for 50 years and just two weeks shy from being 103-years-old," she said.
