Rochdale Muslims celebrate Prophet Muhammad's birthday with a procession

Rochdale Muslims celebrate Prophet Muhammad's birthday with a procession

Rochdale’s Muslim community paraded the streets of Rochdale today (Tuesday 14 January) to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

The annual procession was the culmination of an eleven day educational festival where the life of the Prophet Muhammad was explored at length in ten of the town’s mosques.

The parade was organised by a group of young British Muslim professionals supported by the Rochdale Milad Committee.

Beginning on Durham Street, the procession, complete with banners and green flags, made its way through the Milkstone and Deeplish areas before completing its journey at The Butts in Rochdale Town Centre.

Imam Irfan Chishti MBE, lead organiser of the parade, said: “The birthday of the Prophet Muhammad is the most significant event of the Islamic calendar as his arrival brought light to this darkened world through his love, compassion and mercy.

“This peaceful birthday parade is an embodiment of his prophetic teachings.”

There was a large turn-out for the event and the crowds enjoyed the afternoon. Riaz Ahmed said: “The parade was very nice. It was good fun.”

Mahmood Afzal said: “It was brilliant. Well organised and everyone was having a good time. The organisers made sure people were on the path and nobody got hurt.”

S Majid said: “That was fantastic. The organisation was good. This is a celebration of our last prophet Muhammad and it gets better and bigger every year.”