Hyderabad, Jan 4 (IANS): Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed, was celebrated Sunday with gaiety in Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana and neighboring Andhra Pradesh.
Meetings, processions, feeding of the poor, blood donation camps and 'mahafil-e-milads' or special gatherings in praise of the Prophet were held to mark the occasion.
The old city of Hyderabad was decked up for the occasion with green flags and huge banners tied on roads. Processions were taken out in several localities, which joined the central procession which started from the historic Makkah Masjid.
Holding green flags, a large number of people participated in the central procession, which culminated in a public meeting at Moghalpura Ground. Youngsters took out processions on motorbikes. Holding flags and raising slogans, they passed through different parts of the city.
Several localities were illuminated and spruced up for the Milad. Addressing the meetings, religious scholars and community leaders exhorted Muslims to strictly follow the "seerat-e-tayyaba" or the holy life of the Prophet for success in this world and hereafter.
Hundreds of people attended the annual meeting organized by Majlis-e-Tameer-e-Millat at Nizam College grounds. President of Majlis, Moulana Mohammed Abdur Raheem Qureshi, who presided over the meeting, said the message of Islam is for the entire humanity.
Police made elaborate security arrangements, especially in the old city, to maintain law and order. Security personnel were deployed around the places of worship and public places. Over 8,000 policemen were deployed and 500 CCTV cameras were installed as part of the security arrangements.
At a mammoth public meeting organized by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) Saturday night, party president Asaduddin Owaisi advised youth to desist from un-Islamic practices during Milad celebrations.
The MP said the processions should not cause inconvenience people and the organizers should not deviate from the routes given to them by police. He decried use of colour and DJs during the celebrations.
Jamia Nizamia, a leading Islamic seminary, has issued a 'fatwa' asking Muslims to desist from un-Islamic practices like playing music, singing and dancing during Milad.