Mahim dargah festival draws to a close, registers 5 lakh visitors

The 10-day-long Mahim dargah festival concluded on Sunday with more than five lakh visitors attending the fair and paying respects at the Mahim dargah, said the dargah’s officials.

The 10-day-long Mahim dargah festival concluded on Sunday with more than five lakh visitors attending the fair and paying respects at the Mahim dargah, said the dargah’s officials.

HT Image

The festival commemorates Makhdoom Ali Mahimi, a Muslim scholar known for his written works with liberal and humane views.

“Makhdoom Ali Mahimi came to the city 600 years ago. His explanations of the Quran are well-known among other works,” said Maulana Mehmood Ahmed Khan Daryabadi, general secretary, All India Ulema Council.

The residents who volunteer to manage the fair, processions and rituals at the Mahim dargah, said their enthusiasm peaks during this annual festival. “We wait for this event every year -- for all the festivities and delicacies. All communities participate in the processions and the atmosphere is beautiful,” said Aatif Ansari, 29, a Mahim resident, as he prepared to go for a round of chicken rolls and halwa parathas.

“The fair has been organised since 1920 and people from all over the country attend it,” said Suhail Khandwani, managing trustee, Mahim dargah.

More than 400 processions, which have Sufi music, qawwali and lectures, took place this year at the dargah, where langar (free food distribution) was also organised. A unique tradition, that of the Mumbai Police offering the first ‘chadar’ at the dargah, was observed this time too, said a dargah official.