On Tuesday January 14th the Old City of Hyderabad India was full of celebration. The Shia community was marking ‘Yaume Wiladat e Imam Ali’ which is the birthday of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib. This is a really important religious day for them because he was the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad. It always happens on the 13th day of Rajab the seventh month in the Islamic calendar. Lots of processions started in different parts of the Old City all heading to Moula Ali Pahad with many people joining in.
The celebrations had big groups of people and processions mainly organized by the Shia community. But even though it’s especially important to Shias, others joined in too. The processions started in the Old City and they all ended up at Moula Ali Pahad showing that’s where the main part of the celebration took place. This anniversary happens every year on the 13th of Rajab and this year that was January 14th.
This event is all about honoring the birth of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib who is very respected in Islam especially by Shia Muslims. The celebrations with the processions and people participating together was a public way to show their faith and community spirit. Because people from different backgrounds joined in it also showed how important the occasion is in the culture of the Old City.