Amid Ganesh Chaturthi, changes in Eid-e-milad procession timings

This year, the Eid-e-milad festival falls on September 16, a day before the Ganesh Visarjan on September 17.

The decision to defer the timings of the celebrations was taken during a meeting of Surat Eid-e-milad-un-nabi committee and Sirat-un-nabi committee members with Muslims leaders from different parts of the city.

Surat Sirat-un-nabi committee secretary Arashad Kalyani said, “The procession will be concluded before the aarti in different pandals begin. This is a preventive measure taken to maintain peace and harmony in the city. A message has been sent out to different Muslims groups to reach Zampa Bazaar at 11.00-11.30pm for the procession, which will, at Bhagal crossroads, join other processions. After passing through Raj Marg, it will culminate at Khwaja Dana Dargah at Badekhan Chakla at 5-6pm.”

Surat Eid-e-milad-un-nabi committee secretary Abbas Shaikh said, “Generally, every year, the religious procession is taken out at 2.30pm and it ends at 9.30pm. This year, the procession will culminate early.”

Muslim community leader Kadir Pirzada said, “We have also talked to Muslim groups in Muglishara, Katargam, Unn, Limbayat, Sachin and other areas in the outskirts and they have told us that they will take out the procession in their respective areas and will not join the main procession. We have conveyed our decision to take out the rally early to the police commissioner and he has welcomed it.”