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Feast of Al-Ghadir celebrations in holy Najaf

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY NAJAF, Iraq: Eid Al-Ghadir, or the Feast of Al-Ghadir, named after the place where holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his pure progeny) declared his cousin and son-in-law Al- Imam Ali (peace be upon him) his successor on the orders of Allah by raising his hand in front of more than 120,000 hajj pilgrims, was celebrated on Saturday 18 Zol-hijja across Iraq with deep enthusiasm.

In Holy Najaf, hundreds of thousands of devotees from across the country descended at the holy shrine of Al-Imam Ali (peace be upon him) to swear allegiance to the infallible imam (peace be upon him). Special A’maal of the day were also performed at the holy shrine.

They had converged on Najaf the day before -- many of them traveling to the holy city on foot, for Ghadir.

Thousands of women, dressed from head to toe in the billowing black folds of the abaya handed out sweets and wailed for joy on the streets.

Thousands of young men walked around the magnificent Imam Ali (peace be upon him) mausoleum which was decorated with lights, balloons and multicolored buntings marking the auspicious occasion.

"Imam Ali, we come to swear allegiance to you," chanted worshippers.

"Our joy is two-fold. We are celebrating Al-Ghadir and the elections," said Abd al-Aemma, an economist by education, but unemployed at 50 years old. Security was tight in the holy city.

Special grand festive gatherings were held at the holy shrines, husseiniyaat, mosques, marajay offices and schools attended by thousands of devotees. Speakers highlighted the significance of Eid Al-Ghadir while eulogists paid rich tributes by reciting eulogies. Sweetmeats were distributed.

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