Hyderabad's Grand Milad-un-Nabi Peace Procession Celebrates Prophet Mohammed's 1,500th Birth Anniversary
Thousands of Muslims in Hyderabad participated in a grand Milad-un-Nabi Peace procession to mark the 1,500th birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. The procession, which took place amid tight security, featured people on foot, bikes, and cars. It symbolized unity, devotion, and peace, and was a key part of the city’s annual celebrations.
Originally, the procession was scheduled for Monday, but it was postponed out of respect for the Ganesh festival, which was being celebrated by the city’s Hindu community. This change was made to promote mutual respect and unity between Muslims and non-Muslims, reflecting Hyderabad’s Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, a cultural tradition of communal harmony. The procession was instead held on Thursday.
The Markaz-e-Milad Juloos Committee, also known as the Central Milad Procession Committee, announced that the celebrations would include year-long events such as seminars, naatiya mehfils (religious poetry gatherings), and literary competitions to honor the Prophet.
Muslims celebrated the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed with great enthusiasm and religious fervor. The celebrations included special prayers, showing deep reverence for the Prophet, who is believed to have been sent as a blessing for all of humanity. On September 16, Muslims celebrated Eid with prayers held indoors, and on Thursday, various Eid Milad processions and rallies were taken out across Hyderabad.
Streets, roads, markets, and buildings were beautifully decorated and illuminated with lights, colors, and banners celebrating Milad-un-Nabi. The Old City was especially vibrant, with Islamic Naats (religious songs) and Qawwalis (devotional music) being played in honor of the Prophet.
Thousands of participants, particularly youth, joined the Milad rally organized by the Markazi Milad Juloos Committee. The main procession started from Dargah Quadri Chaman in Falaknuma and passed through Aliabad, Shalibanda, and Moghalpura, before reaching Mecca Masjid near Charminar. Smaller processions from areas like Chandrayangutta, Kalapather, and Bahadurpura also joined the main rally at Charminar.
After prayers at Mecca Masjid, the procession continued through Gulzar Houz, Pathergatti, Nayapul, Salar Jung Museum, and Darulshifa, ending at Moghalpura. Hyderabad Commissioner CV Anand personally supervised the event at Charminar and met with the Milad Committee. He praised the city’s Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb and encouraged citizens, especially the youth, to celebrate peacefully.
The procession was led by prominent religious scholars and figures from various walks of life. Along the route, participants distributed sweets, snacks, juices, and food to others. Many mosques and religious organizations held lectures and programs to highlight the teachings of Prophet Mohammed, focusing on messages of compassion, kindness, and brotherhood.
The Milad celebrations in Hyderabad will continue throughout the entire month of Rabi-al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. The grand procession traditionally takes place on the 12th day of the month. This year, as well as last year, the Muslim community postponed the procession by three days to promote communal harmony in the city.