Bohra community undeterred by security concerns

By Bandula Sirimana

Undeterred by the recent bomb blasts, a large gathering of Islamic pilgrims of the Bohra community have already boosted tourism through high occupancy levels owing to their 10 day religious convention here, according to Tourism Deputy Minister, Faizer Mustapha.

Speaking to The Sunday Times FT he said the ongoing Bohra convention marks the 10 day ‘Ashara Mubarak’ ceremony of the Islamic New Year. The event being held for the second consecutive time will bring in 30,000 Bohra Muslims from all parts of the world.

Ten thousand pilgrims have already arrived and snapped up hotel rooms in the capital while others are being put up in apartments. In attendance for the event is the Dawoodi community’s spiritual leader, His holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb.

Mustapha asserted that the President was keen on the holding of this convention with the government granting more security for the event.

“Colombo's shopping centres and supermarkets are expected to increase trade as pilgrims wander around the city at the end of daily prayers,” Musthapha said.

He added that the decision to return to Sri Lanka by his Holiness was a welcome sign since His Holiness was pleased with his last trip. The convention which started on Wednesday is to go on for 10 days, and the opening ceremony was held in the Bohra Grand Mosque in Bambalapitiya.

The ‘Ashara Mubarak’ ceremony marks the Martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, Imam Hussain, which is the most important event of the Dawoodi Bohra Islamic religious calendar.