Along with the rest of the country, the holy Shab-e-Barat, known as the night of fortune, was observed on Saturday night across various places of Dimakuchi, Kalaigaon, Tangla, Panery, Garuajhar in Udalguri with due religious fervour and devotion.
The night started with the fall of dusk, coinciding with the Maghrib (evening) prayers. Believed to be a sacred night when the past sins of the devotees stand a chance to be forgiven by the Almighty, and their destinies written anew, the believers were seen beseeching God for pardon and general welfare.
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The congregational prayers at the mosques also attracted more number of people than normal, where prayers for universal peace and tranquillity were made by the Imams (one who leads the prayers). People also visited graveyards at night to pay their homage to the deceased by reciting verses from the Holy Quran, and to pray to God to grant them a better afterlife. Muslims believe that on this night Almighty Allah decides the fate of all human beings fixing their “rizq” (livelihood) for the next year. Many families prepared traditional foods like rice bread and halwa (a kind of dessert made usually from semolina, carrot, chickpea or papaya).These were for domestic consumption as well as for distribution among friends and family with the intention of spreading bonhomie and affection.
Shab-e-Barat, the night of deliverance, falls on the 15th of the Islamic month of Shaban. Muslims pray in preparation for Ramzaan and seek forgiveness of their sins. The devotees also visited the graves of their loved ones at night and prayed for their eternal peace. Special prayers and sermons were were witnessed at several mosques in Kalaigaon, Garuajhar including Tangla Bara Masjid and Jame Masjid,Banseria of Tangla.