National Stadium
- Karachi, June 9, 2004 : More than 400 nikahs
were performed at a mass marriage ceremony at the Evan-e-Muffadal,
Shabbirabad, Block B on Wednesday as part of the celebrations
of the 93rd birthday of His Holiness, Dr. Syedna Mohammed
Burhanuddin, spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community
and an acclaimed Ambassador of peace and goodwill. Dr.
Burhanuddin has been in Pakistan for a fortnight and
has been accorded the status of State Guest. Thousands
of
Dawoodi Bohras not only from various parts of Pakistan
but assorted corners of the globe ranging from UK, USA
to Japan, Sri Lanka, Singapore and countries in Africa,
have congregated in Karachi to be a part of the festivities.
The mass marriage which started at
1 o clock in the afternoon was initiated with a colourful
procession of over 400 grooms. The nikahs were performed
by the brothers and sons of Syedna Burhanuddin and the
entire ceremony, accompanied by Zohr namaz and lunch
for the families of the bride and groom, spanned over
3 hours.
This ceremony was followed by a celebration
at the National Stadium which was the culmination of
the birthday celebrations. The Dawoodi Bohra community
members were seated in the stadium before sunset and
soon after Maghrib namaz His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed
Burhanuddin entered the stadium premises. The proceedings
were initiated with the reverential recitation of the
Holy Quran and Arabic poems.
This was followed by a PT Display
involving 1400 energetic children who enthralled the
crowd with their delightful formations, punctuated by
the release of thousands of balloons and pigeons in
the sky. Then a series of 7 floats entered the stadium,
the theme being 'seven things which please Syedna Burhanuddin'.
These seven floats thus included the depiction of Nikah
which Syedna strongly exhorts his followers to perform
at a marriageable age in accordance with the teachings
of the Holy Prophet. Other items included a display
of trade and industry as Syedna encourages his followers
to be self reliant, the term 'Bohra' meaning 'Businessman'.
Then there was a float with the portrayal of the Holy
Quran; Dr. Burhanuddin himself is Hafiz-ul-Quran
and an Arabic scholar par excellence.
Other items included the depiction
of education which Syedna stresses upon; dress code;
the Zikr of Hazrat Imam Husain RA which is always incorporated
in every discourse that Syedna recites; the construction
of Masjids in all corners of the world especially Al-Jamea-al-Anwar
in Cairo, built by the Fatemi Imam Hakim whose restoration
undertaken by Dr. Burhanuddin, was a magnanimous project.
These floats were followed by a magnificent
procession comprising of the grooms who had been married
that afternoon and also the Dawoodi Bohra community
members who have gathered in Karachi for the Salgirah
cerebrations. They carried with them exotic and innovative
gifts to offer to Syedna like a 93 foot birthday card
which the Surat, India delegation had brought. The climax
of the evening was the recitation of a nikah by his
Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin himself and
then all the 400 grooms were granted an audience with
Dr. Burhanuddin and posed for a group
photograph.
Through the nine decades of
his life, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has inspired and
educated, counseled and nurtured his followers. The
love and devotion that the Dawoodi Bohras have for him
becomes amply evident, be it in a gathering of thousands
who jostle for a glimpse of the serene countenance,
or seek personal audience with him. This love so much
a part of religion is mutual, as Syedna TUS reiterates,
"I know you love me dearly but I, your father,
love you even more. You belong to me and I to you."
