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| Home » Rawalpindi festivals and events » Shab-e-Barat in Rawalpindi |
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Shab-e-Barat in Rawalpindi |
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Shab-e-Barat in Rawalpindi has a special significance. It is popularly believed among the Muslim cult that the fate of man is determined in this auspicious night. This night is said to be so auspicious that if someone prays through out the night and asks for forgiveness for any wrongdoing, he will get it. This is celebrated in the 8th month called the Shaban of the Islamic lunar calendar. The festival of Shab-e-barat is celebrated on the13th or 14th day of Shaban which is 15 days prior to Ramadan in Rawalpindi.
Shab-e-barat means the night of forgiveness or the Day of Atonement. People pray both for forgiveness as well as in preparation of Ramadan. The festival of Shab-e-Barat in Rawalpindi is also known as Boraks Nigh. Shab in Persian language means night and ‘Barat’ means the night of emancipication. It also commemorates the entry of Muhammad in to the city of Mecca. The night of Shab-e-Barat in Rawalpindi sees a lighted sky and celebration in the air. Candles and strands of electric bulbs illuminate houses and streets and provide a joyful ambience to the festival. The Muslims stay awake at the night of Shab-e-Barat while colourful works dazzle the skies.
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Sweets specially made of the delicious sevaiyyan or the vermicelli are sent to friends and relatives in memory of those who passed away during the year. Acts of charity are also performed by distributing goodies to the poor. Flowers are offered to the graves of the deceased family members. Another important ritual of the Shab-e-Barat is to recite the ‘Fatiha’ or the blessings, over the meal in the name of the Prophet, his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali.
The Holy book of Quran is also read during this time to mark the day.
The entire night of Shab-e-Barat is devoted to prayers for there is a popular belief in the Muslim cult that he who prays for the entire night is granted forgiveness for all the sins that he has committed. They ask for forgiveness for all the sins in the past year and also ask for good fortune to come in the following years. However, an interesting fact is that, there is no mention of the Shab-e-Barat in the Holy book of Quran. But the Sura Dukhan does mention about Laila Mubaraka, which, according to the learned scholars of the Quran and the Hadith, is Shab-e-Barat.
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| Shab-e-Barat as you have found out is a celebration and a moment of joyous emancipation from one’s sins. There are so many aspects of Islamabad and Rawalpindi that you can find out from Islamabad/Rawalpindi Travel Guide.
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