TOPThe Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi celebration organized by His Eminence has passed down to history as an event of great mass participation. For the 1967 celebration, the press reported that 50,000 people were present at Taher Bagh (Mauritius), a record captioned by one paper: 'Maulana Khushtar makes history'. Another striking feature of His Eminence mission was that he was able to wonderfully revive the tradition of paying salutations to the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) in the Mosques after prayers and during Halqa Zikr and other occasions.
After a lapse in this connection His Eminence started celebrating it anew since some years, each time he has met with resounding success. It can be predicated, therefore, that in the near future this celebration will gather the entire island of Mauritius, as it is His Eminence’s cherished wish to bring about the much needed unity of the Muslims on the religious plane.
The Sunni Razvi Society International has gathered much experience with this kind of mass celebration and the organizing machinery and skills was beyond reproach, paying attention to every detail in the planning process. After the Eid-ul-Fitr, Hazrat Maulana Khushtar himself had been touring the island of Mauritius to mobilize people for the coming event and the response was spontaneous. It could not otherwise also, as thousands here count as the disciples of His Eminence in Mauritius.
The joyous day came on Tuesday 31st August 1993, and as planned, before 10 am, a long queue of decorated cars, trucks, vans, buses, motorcycles and even bicycles had parked in front of the Sunni Razvi Society Headquarters at Sir Edgar Laurent Street, Port Louis. It looked like a never-ending procession, ready to march ahead towards the first Sunni Razvi EidGah, where the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi Celebration was to take place. The streets of the neighborhood as well as the Khadafi Square were also decorated for this special occasion.
At 10:00 am His Eminence Hazrat Maulana Ibrahim Khushtar took a seat in a carriage drawn by a white horse and was flanked by his brother Hazrat Maulana Ayub Razvi (may Allah be pleased with him). In front was seated Haji Ibrahim Ramtoola. The procession then marched on majestically along Sir Edgar Laurent Street, passed around Khadafi Square, went along Sir Seersewasagar Ramgoolam Street, Dules Turening Street, turned around the left side of the Champ de Mars, moved through Vallee Pitot and finally reached the EidGah.
All along the way, Muslims chanted praises of the beloved Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and the eulogies were echoed everywhere by the use of loudspeakers. People showed their enthusiasm during the procession by having artistically decorated their floats with flags and banners bearing various religious inscriptions. Even replicas, in miniature, of the Kaaba and Madina Shareef could be seen on some vehicles. With various decorations, the EidGah looked majestic on its imposing site, overlooking mountains, hills, hillocks, plains, meadows and the Indian Ocean further away. It had been turned into a fairyland, colored with its daytime illuminations, flags, buntings (streamers) and other decorative materials. Ice cream and cake sellers found the day profitable to make a better sale of their commodities.
The guest speakers were Maulana Haroon Assen, Imam of the Shah-e Rasul Mosque and Maulana Nasrullah. Other gusts of honor included Maulana Hamid Razvi, the Imaam and Khateeb of the Sunni Razvi Central Mosque and Maulana Jameel Chooramun. Later on, 3 members of the National Assembly, Hon. Basheer Khodabux (Minister of Environment and Quality of Life), Hon. S. Soodhun (Govt Chief Whip) and Hon. A. Asgarally (Parliamentary Private Secretary) came to the Eid-Milad-un-Nabi celebration.
The celebration was also highlighted by the presence of representatives of the various overseas branches of the Sunni Razvi Society. and started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran and the recital of Na’at Shareefs.
His Eminence laid emphasis on the abiding love that Muslims should have for the beloved Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon Him) in order to achieve salvation both here and in the Hereafter. He added that it was his cherished desire to have Eid Prayer performed on top of the hill encircling the EidGah, it will then symbolize the unity of the Muslims here in Mauritius. All other guest speakers expressed the same love for the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him) and exhorted the seekers to illuminate their hearts with the same love and respect.
On the decorative side, mention should be made of the municipal arc the volunteers have raised at the entrance of the EidGah, just to show their religious passion for the occasion. Everywhere could be read "Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi Mubarak, Jashne Wildat Zindabad, Mahe Nabouwwat Zindabad".