Dr Syedna Saheb’s 101st birthday was celebrated in a grand manner by members of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Surat on Tuesday. Apart from special prayer and other entertainment programmes, Syedna’s successor was also officially declared on the special day. His son, Sayedi Muffadal, will be the new leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
According to the Misri Calendar, Dr Syedna completes 100 years on Tuesday. To mark the occasion, various celebrations were organised by the Dawoodi Bohra Zamaat Committee. In the morning, community members greeted Dr Syedna; then he, along with all community leaders and members, offered Vayaz (prayers) at a Masjid in Devdi near Zampa Bazaar.
Vayaz began at 10:30 am and got over at 2:30 pm. Owing to Syedna’s poor health, Vayaz was offered by his son and successor Sayedi Muffadal. Syedna is the 52nd religious leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Along with Vayaz, members of the community were taught the values of Islam, Shariyat, values of life and good deeds to be done by a Dawoodi Bohra member. The history of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson Imam Hussain, who died at Karbala along with 72 other martyrs while fighting for a human cause, was also presented before community leaders after Vayaz.
After Vayaz, Syedna cut a cake weighing 101 kilograms at a special ceremony. This was followed by entertainment programmes and later a rally by community members. In the afternoon, a community feast was organised at Cotton Mill Compound at Salabatpura. Thousands of Bohra members participated in the feast.Dr Syedna is the first religious head of the Dawoodi Bohra community to complete 100 years.
His entire family was present at the b’day function.
Thousands waited for hours to have a glimpse of their religious leader, but not all were lucky. Owing to ill-health, Dr Syedna was taken back to his bungalow soon after the cake-cutting ceremony.
Celebrations continued in the evening, with a musical programme and feast organised by the committee.
