THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 11-day Uroos festival at Beemapally Dargah Shareef will begin on February 28. The festival will kick off with procession and hoisting of the customary flag at Beemapally, located 12 km from the city.
Religious discussions led by scholars, cultural programmes and prayer meetings will be held during the festival. Religious and political leaders are expected to attend the conference to be held as part of the festival.
The festival will conclude on March 10, with a procession, prayer and a feast.
Arrangements
Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure that the festival is an eco-friendly one. Mayor V K Prasanth chaired a meeting of various government departments and agencies on Saturday to assess the preparations.
A tried-and-tested green protocol will be implemented on the Beemapally premises. This is to ensure control over plastic wastes.
“Uroos is attended by a lot of people. Hence, we need to make extra preparatory works to welcome them. Jamaat authorities should ensure green protocol in the coming days.” said Mayor.
Renovation of roads towards the Dargah, unclogging the sewerage line along the roads, replacing faulting street lights with new ones etc are the major tasks.
Mayor said more cleaning workers would be deployed and the greenery in the area will be kept intact.
The State Government will make traffic and security arrangements. KSRTC will conduct chain service round the clock during the festival and the Health Department will set up a temporary health clinic on the mosque premises.
The services of ambulances will be provided and drinking water will be supplied through tanker lorries.
The KSEB officials informed the meeting that all dysfunctional lights will be replaced. Food safety officials will set up special squads to check adulteration of food products.Town Planning Standing Committee chairperson R Sateesh Kumar, Welfare Standing Committee chairperson R Geetha Gopal, councillors Beemapally Rasheed and Sajeena, and Jamaath officials participated in the meeting.
Festival
The Uroos festival is held in memory of Sayyidhathunissa Beema Beevi and her son Ashaikhu Sayyidu Shaheed Maheen Aboobaker. The Dargah Shareef is dedicated to Beevi who had been believed to possess extraordinary powers.
Bee Umma, as she was known to believers, belonged to the family of Prophet Mohammed and reached Thiruvananthapuram from Arabia centuries ago, to preach Islam. The qabars (graves) of Bee Umma and her son are situated here.