Tunisia: the Mawled al

AA/Kairouan/Wejden Jlassi

The Muslim world celebrates, on the 12th day of the month of Rabi’ al-awwal of each lunar year (October 8 for this year) the birth of the prophet Mohamed (peace and salvation be upon him).

In Tunisia, the Mawled (Mouled) festival takes its rightful place in Kairouan, the fourth holiest city in Islam and the first sacred city in the Maghreb.

Located in the center of Tunisia, the capital of the Aghlabids has, as every year, reserved an exceptional welcome to its visitors coming from the four corners of the country and from various backgrounds, in order to discover its religious buildings, its traditions as well as its heritage. sufi.

In an atmosphere both jovial and spiritual, thousands of visitors took part in the various festivities marking the celebration of the birth of the Prophet Mohamed and rejoiced in the varied performances, Sufi songs to the glory of the Prophet, sung at the mausoleum of ‘Abou Zomaâ el-Balawi (one of the companions of the Prophet) as well as spiritual, cultural, artistic and commercial events.

The 5th edition of the Mawled festival, which takes place this year from October 1 to 9, was marked by the participation of several countries including Algeria, Libya, Syria and Indonesia, which gives an international dimension to this event.

Spirituality above all!

The Mawled festival (Mouled in Tunisian dialect) is of great importance in Kairouan. The celebration of the birth of the Prophet in joy and spiritual fervor has been a firmly established tradition in the city for several years.

The faithful join the mosques and mausoleums in particular the prestigious Okba Ibn Nafaa mosque, a monument of the Aghlabid era. At the Barber’s Mosque, where there is the burial of Abou Zomaâ el-Balaoui who is said to have retained a few hairs from the beard of the Prophet, of whom he is one of the companions. It has always been known by Tunisians as “Sidi Sahbi”.

On the occasion of Mawled, some faithful coming from distant regions spend whole days there, organizing night vigils of prayer and meditation. Verses from the Koran, prayers, religious invocations and panegyric songs to the glory of God and his Prophet resound in the esplanades of the place.

In the streets and suburbs of the city, folk groups give a mystical aspect to these festivities through processions punctuated by Sufi songs amid the scents of incense. It is a real spectacle that is offered to visitors.

A festive and dynamic event

Beyond the spiritual aspect of Mawled, the commemoration of the prophet’s birth in Kairouan creates an economic and socio-cultural dynamic in the city. Indeed, it is an opportunity to promote the region’s typical craft and culinary heritage. The essential Kairounais bread, local dishes and delicious pastries, especially the Makroudhs, attracted visitors.

Exhibitions and sales of Kairouan craft products and traditional clothing, lantern and fantasia shows as well as Zlass riders animated the city throughout the days of the Mawled celebration.

On the sidelines of the celebrations of the Prophet’s birthday in Kairouan, Tunisian Minister of Tourism Mohamed Al-Moez Belhassine told journalists that the city gathered nearly a million visitors on Friday, which is creating an economic and promotes domestic and religious tourism.

The Mawled market therefore represents an important economic moment for small traders whose stalls are busy along the roads and streets surrounding the sanctuary of Abu Zomaâ el-Balawi and other areas of the city.

Thousands of local artisans and small producers have had the opportunity to promote their various products which attract not only the convinced but also strollers.

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