Bohras observe Shab-e-Baraat, offer prayers at home

Sarfaraz Ahmed | TNN | Updated: Apr 8, 2020, 11:01 IST

NAGPUR: Members of Dawoodi Bohra community on Tuesday observed Shab-e-Baraat offering prayers at their homes and watching live streaming of hymns (marsiya and madah) in remembrance of Imam Hussain.
The community’s masjids at Itwari, Sadar and Mangalwari remained closed in view of the nationwide lockdown and implementation of social distancing.
In better times, the community congregates at the masjids where members offer namaz and listen to the hymns by group of faithful.
The community members have formed WhatsApp groups where the link to an online portal is shared. The portal streamed live recital of the hymns late on Tuesday night.
In fact, a community member said they have been spending more time in online prayers for the last 10 days in order to better utilize their time and pray for everyone’s good health.
Meanwhile, Muslims bodies have announced that no burial ground (kabrastan) would be open on April 9 for Shab-e-Baraat. The occasion is observed as ‘Badi Raat’ when Muslims offer prayers all-night and visit the burial grounds in remembrance of their dead.
The bodies, managing the grounds, have appealed to the people to support the government and local administration in implementing social distancing and lockdown. The masjids are already shut for last three weeks.