Muslims observe night of fortune, forgiveness

Charminar: Muslims across the city offered special prayers on the occasion of Shab-e-Baraat, the night of forgiveness. Thousands of Muslims were seen at graveyards in Mir Ka Daira in Sultan Shahi, Bharhaneshah Sahab in Phisalbanda, Bada Qabristan in Yakutpura, Barkas, Talabkatta, Santosh Nagar and many other parts of the city on the intervening night of April 20 and 21.

As per belief, the night, which opens the 'annual book of deeds' (account of good and bad deeds) of every Muslim, is amongst the most important nights for Muslims. Each year, Muslims across the world seek Allah's blessings on the night of forgiveness. As per the Islamic calendar this night falls on the 15th day of month of Shaban, which comes before Ramzan, the holiest month.

The special night which many Muslims revere as the night of forgiveness and visit graveyards, people also pray for the departed souls and seek forgiveness for their sins. Muslims are seen cleaning graves, painting, pouring water, offering flowers or chader upon the graves of the family members, while reciting verses of Quran. Many a Muslims also observed fasting on 14th and 15th of Shaban.

In most of the roads many flower stalls were seen opened throughout the night, as men visit the graveyards and offer flower to the graves. Mir Ka Daira in Sultan Shahi is more than 400-year-old graveyard and is one of the biggest graveyards in the Old City that both Sunni and Shai Muslims visit.

There are more than 1,500 graves in the 13-acre graveyard. It is here the five Prime Ministers who ruled Hyderabad under Nizam are buried. All belong to the Salar-Jung family.

In the city, special prayers were offered at different mosques like Mecca Masjid in Charminar, Shahi Masjid Bagh-e-Aam at Public Gardens in Nampally, Vazir Ali Mosque in Fateh Darwaza, Jamia Masjid. In many area a mosques are full with the devotees offering prayers and many were seen attending the religious public gatherings in Khilwath Ground near Shalibanda with huge crowds.

The Hyderabad city police also arranged the bandobast for the night, and many policemen were seen performing their duty during the night hours. City Commissioner Anjani Kumar also visited the historic places like Charminar to take stock of security on the occasion.