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Bohra community to celebrate their leader’s birthday today

More than 215 community delegates from the UAE have left for Mumbai to personally greet their leader, Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, and also to attend the inaugural ceremony of the Saifee Hospital, a gift of Dr Syedna to Mumbai city which will be officially opened on June 4 by the Indian prime minister.

In the UAE, special prayer meetings, including the recitation of the Holy Quran, were held for world peace and harmony and for safety and cure from diseases and calamities afflicting mankind. Functions were also held in Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah as also in Muscat, Oman and in Doha, Qatar.

Colourful processions were taken out in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi led by scout bands to mark the event. Community centres decorated with flowers and lights welcomed community members, who turned up in large numbers for the programmes. Functions over a 40-day period are marked by thanksgiving, jubilation and prayers. They included speeches, elocution competition, indoor and outdoor sport programmes, “Rasme Saifee” mass marriages, quiz sessions, photographic exhibitions, henna competitions.

In keeping with this forthcoming event of the inauguration of the Saifee Hospital, the celebrations which began across the world over 40 days, Dr Syedna’s birthday witnessed a unique pattern with emphasis on the central theme of “Shifa” — cure for the mind, body and soul. Health awareness and environment weeks as well as medical check-up programmes by community doctors were organised in addition to seminars on health-related topics.

• UAE