'Alvidai Julus' of Anjuman-Ghuncha-Raza-e-Islam-Kanpur

Anjuman-Raza-e-Islam -Kanpur Performing Nauhakhwani.

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

The 8-year-old ‘Alvidai Julus’(farewell procession) of Anjuman-Ghuncha-e-Raza-E-Islam is catching up in terms of popularity with the most famous and traditional Azadari processions of Kanpur. From a humble beginning under the patronage of eminent Zakira Ahle-Bait Dr. Hena Zaheer Sahiba, the procession now attracts devotees in large number from different areas. As Ayam-e-Aza in Kanpur traditionally ends with the taking of Chup Tazia on the first Sunday of Rabi-ul-Awwal to enable people to attend ‘Aathveen’ of Lucknow, there used to be no Ayam-e-Aza related program after Chup Tazia. If the first Sunday happened to fall on 1^st Rabi-ul-Awwal, there used to be a gap of eight days between end of Ayam-e- Aza in Kanpur and elsewhere. The tradition also refrain devotees from observing martyrdom of Imam Hasan Askari.

Zakira who settled in Kanpur after her marriage felt the need to fill the vacuum. She wanted Ayam-e-Aza to end on a grand scale like other places in Kanpur too. She encouraged a group of children aged between 10 and 14 years to take out an Alvidai procession on the eve of 8^th Rabi ul-Awwal in 2007.As they belonged to Anjuman-Ghuncha-E-Raza Islam, the procession was taken out from Azakhana Haider Sahib near Bagh Wali Masjid in Patkapur for the for the first time. It comprised of an Alam, Tabut of Imam Hasan Askari and Zuljenah and attended mostly by those who could not go to Lucknow for variety of reasons. It terminated at Mehdi Hall in Chota Pathak after covering a distance of about half a kilo meter. Since then, it has been growing in popularity and every lover of Ahle-Bait in Kanpur tries to attend it. The procession is no longer considered to be a program of any particular Anjuman but has emerged as a common platform to bid tearful farewell to Ayam-e-Aza. Leading zakirs such as Maulana Kalbe Rushaid , Bilal Kazmi and Iqrar Abdi Sahibs are invited to address the Alvidai Majlis.

The program is also a great symbol of team spirit. About two dozen members of the organizing committee work for a week tirelessly to raise black flags, installation of quotes of different people about imam Hussain on the walls, banners with the sayings of Masoomeen and erection of a wooden backdrop with replica of ‘Zarih’ Mubarak of Imam Hussain At Karbala at Mehdi Hall. The entire route is profusely illuminated and for the past three years an additional huge Alam with a beautifully designed ‘Sehra’ of flowers has also been added. This year, ‘Sehra’ depicted shrine and sword of Imam all designed with flowers. The procession this year also saw the arrangement of Langar-e-Hussaini on December 19,2015 and recital of ‘Rukhsat’ by Anjuman-e-Rizviya and Alvida by Anjuman-Moin-ul-Momneen. Maulana Iqrar Abdi addressed the Majlis. Prominent among those who strive to make the procession grand with each successive year includes Guddu, Talib Hussain Talib, Murphy, Shuja, Shanu, Monu,Muhammad, Shauzaf, Jarny, Vicky, Shabeeh,Gulle, Kumail and Niky. Senior members of Anjuman such as Safdar Mukhtar, Meesum Rizvi, Asad Mukhtar,Anjum Rizvi,Shabrez,Salmi,parvez,Irfan and Zafar(Gudd) also exctend their whole hearted cooperation to their juniors., May Allah bless these teenagers to with a long and successful life so as to enable them bid a befitting farewell to Ayam-e-Aza in years to come and also bless their patrons with Jaza-e-Khair in the Sadqa of Prophet Muhammad and his Ahle-Bait. Ilahi Ameen.(Reference :The article is based on the personal participation of the author in the procession since its inception regularly).