Thousands of Muslims take part in Muharram celebrations

Thousands of Muslims took part in the annual celebration of Muharram, the first month on the Islamic Calendar Year.

Dressed in white, the faithful meandered through the historic Bo-Kaap in the heart of Cape Town to pay tribute to the pioneers of Islam.

Mohammad Groenewald, co-organiser of the Muharram march explains that this year the focus is on paying tribute to the pioneers of Islam in South Africa.

“Whilst we’re also asking people to reflect on the history, in light of the kind of xenophobic attacks that are happening in our country sadly and this event is a moment for us simply to reflect once all of us came into this country, whether it was as slaves banished to the Cape whether as political exiles, at the end of the day we are made up of various communities and we have blossomed in this part of the world.”

Groenwald says that the route includes historic and important sites such as the Tana Baru, the burial ground of many of the forefathers of the Islamic faith.

“As you hear in the media it’s also under threat from developers and so on and so forth and therefore this site is an extremely important site of its historical value as well as its religious value as a community.”

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The aim of the march is to educate the youth and the wider community.

Descendants of pioneers of the faith joined in the celebration such as Hesham Neamatollah Effendi, great grandson: “I recognise that the Bo-Kaap is the foundation of Islam in South Africa and my great grandfather being one of the pioneers and he worked with most of these Karamats (Muslim Shrines) here. Some of them were his close friends and I felt it was important that I must also represent my family.”

Saajidah Cassiem from the Muslim Youth Movement says that this is one of the most sacred months of the year.

“I feel very honoured to be here and I’ve enjoyed it.  It’s a beautiful programme, I loved the theme, the dress code and I’m a very passionate person about our youth because I think they don’t get enough of the kind of exposure to these things as well.”

Muharram is one of the holy months on the Islamic Calendar. Followers dress in white to symbolise purity and new beginnings.