Hyderabad comes alive on Shab-e-Baraat with prayers and devotion

Devotees preparing to offer prayers at the Makkah Masjid on Shab-e-Barat, in the Old City of Hyderabad, Thursday.
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The streets around Charminar, usually bustling with activity, took on a different aura on Thursday night as thousands of devotees gathered to observe Shab-e-Baraat, a night of prayers, reflection, and forgiveness. Families were seen seated near the Makkah Masjid, capturing the sight of the grandly illuminated mosque as worshippers engaged in spiritual devotion.

Shab-e-Baraat holds immense significance for many Muslims, as it is believed to be a night when Allah grants pardon to those who sincerely seek forgiveness and determines the destinies of individuals for the coming year. “It is a night of divine mercy, a chance to reflect on our past deeds and seek blessings for the year ahead,” said Mohd Imran, a local resident visiting Makkah Masjid with his family of four.

Across hyderabad, several mosques wittesed large congregations, including Jamia Masjid, Vazir Ali Mosque in Fateh Darwaza, Jamia Masjid Jafria in Santhnagar, Azizia Masjid in Mehdpatnam, and Jamia Masjid in Mahboob chowk. Religious gatherings were also planned at Melad Grounds in Khilwat, Moghalpura playground, and Quli quli quli quli qutb shah stadium, where eminent Islamic scholars addressed the significance of the night.

The superintendent of Makkah Masjid, Abdul Qadeer, highlighted the meticulous planning undertaken for the event. “A special prayer session was held, focusing on setting spiritual goals for the coming year. The police have also ensured adequate security arrangements to manage the large crowd at Charminar. However, traffic congestion remains a challenge, as priests and devotees sometimes struggle to reach the mosque on time,” he said.

Apart from offering prayers, many devotees visited cemeteries to remember their deceased loved ones. “People stay awake throughout the night, visiting graveyards to pray and place garlands on tombstones. Religious meetings are also held in mosques and other venues like Chanchalguda playground and Quli Qutub Shah Stadium to discuss the importance of this night,” said Iliyas Ahmed, a resident of Charminar. He further mentioned that people observed a fast on Thursday, breaking it before the evening prayers at 6:30 p.m.

With thousands of worshippers expected to gather, Hyderabad police implemented extensive security and traffic arrangements. DCP South Zone Sneha Mehra stated, “We have ensured security at all major mosques with pickets and patrolling units. Senior officers, including the DCP and Commissioner of Police, will personally monitor the arrangements. Over 1,000 police personnel, including special forces, have been deployed in the South Zone for crowd management.”

Additional DCP (Traffic) P. Viswa Prasad elaborated on traffic measures, noting that arrangements were made for parking and crowd movement at major mosques and graveyards. “Barricades have been placed at key flyovers to regulate movement, and traffic personnel have been deployed at major junctions to curb reckless driving, over-speeding, and triple riding,” he added. Additional personnel have also been stationed at Khilwat Ground, Quli Qutb Shah Stadium, and Chanchalguda Government Junior College, where large religious gatherings are expected.