Birthday of Hazrat Imam Ali celebrated in Hyderabad with religious fervour

The Shia community in Hyderabad celebrated the birth anniversary of Hazrat Imam Ali with fervour, corresponding to the 13th of Rajab in the Hijri calendar. Processions carrying traditional sehra were taken out across Shia neighbourhoods, culminating at the Koh-e-Moula Ali shrine in Malkajgiri.

Hyderabad: The Shia community celebrated the birth anniversary of Hazrat Imam Ali, Prophet Muhammad’s cousin, with fervour in the city on Saturday. It corresponds to the 13th of Islamic month Rajab in the Hijri calendar.

As part of the festivities, several processions were taken out in neighbourhoods with a substantial Shia population across the city. Each procession carried a traditional sehra which was welcomed on its way to Koh-e-Moula Ali shrine.

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The shrine is located on a hillock in Malkajgiri and according to legends, was built during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Qutb Shah, the third ruler of Golconda. It is said that a nobleman named Malik Yakoot, during his visit to the hills, saw the handprint of Imam Ali imprinted on a part of the rock.

The tale of his find reached Sultan Ibrahim Qutb Shah, who then had the hand mark carved out of the rock and placed in the great arch at the site. Since then, a shrine along with an ashoorkhana and other structures has stood at the site.