Hundreds of thousands of devotees spanning all generations took to the streets of Chattogram on Wednesday morning to participate in the 55th traditional Jashan procession.
Organised by the Anjumane Rahmania Ahmadiyya Sunni Trust, the massive gathering brought together people from all walks of life with children, youths and the elderly marching side-by-side while chanting Durood and Naat.
The procession officially commenced at 9:45 am from the Jamia Ahmadiyya Sunni Madrasa in Sholashahar. It was led by Pir Allama Syed Muhammad Sabir Shah, the Sajjadanshin of Sirikot, who arrived in a special vehicle accompanied by Sahibzada Syed Muhammad Qasim Shah and Shahzada Syed Muhammad Aqib Ahmed Shah. Before the march began also special prayers and supplications were offered and the Islamic scholars briefly addressed the media.
A festive atmosphere gripped the port city as the procession wound its way through key intersections including Muradpur, Gate No. 2, GEC, WASA, Lalkhan Bazar and Tiger Pass, before returning to the madrasa grounds. Thousands of onlookers lined the sidewalks and gathered on building rooftops to catch a glimpse of the event and join in the collective prayers.
The city’s major intersections and road dividers were adorned with arches, banners and Anjuman flags. A vibrant makeshift fair stretched from Muradpur to the madrasa also offering traditional items such as perfumes, caps, tasbeehs, miswaks and religious attire. To support the participants, various local organisations distributed drinking water, sherbet and dates along the route.
The event drew devotees from across the country and abroad including current and former students of over 300 madrasas run by the Anjuman.
To ensure the safety and discipline of the massive crowd at an approximately 10,000 volunteers worked in coordination with law enforcement agencies. Authorities also temporarily closed the Lalkhan Bazar-Muradpur flyover during the procession to facilitate crowd control and manage city traffic.
