Id-e-Milad is a festival of both rejoicing and mourning. The festival
of Id-e-Milad popularly known as Barah Wafat the twelfth day is one of
the important festival in the Muslim calendar. The day commemorates the
birth and also the death anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. It falls on
the twelfth day of the third month Rabi-ul-Awwal of the Muslim calendar,
which is usually in September and October. The word 'barah' signifies
the twelve days of the Prophet's sickness. During these twelve days,
priests and learned men deliver sermons and Koranic texts in mosques,
focusing on the life and noble deeds of the Prophet. In some parts of
the country, a ceremony known as sandal rites performed over the
symbolic footprints of the Prophet engraved in stone. It is considered
auspicious to offer prayers and give alms on this day.
In India, however, the celebrations mainly consist of street
processions and functions. Where Nats (poems praising the Prophet and
his noble deeds) are sung and scholars preach sermons on the life and
teachings of the Holy Prophet. In some parts of the country, a 'sandal'
rite is also performed. Prophet Mohammed, son of Abdul Muttalib, of the
Qureysh tribe, was born at Mecca in 570AD. From about 610 AD, he began
to receive revelations sent down from Allah through angel Gabriel. He
spread the word among people, and soon had a small community of
followers. Later Islam became one of the most popular religions of the
world. In 632 AD, Prophet Muhammad went on a pilgrimage to Mecca
followed by thousands of his devotees, where he preached his farewell
sermon and later left the mortal world forever. The festival mainly
commemorates the teachings and beliefs of Prophet Mohammed.
