Rochdale Muslims celebrate birthday of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH]

This annual procession is the culmination a 12-day educational festival where the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad [PBUH] were explored at length in 12 of the town’s mosques.

The birthday celebrations, known as Milad an Nabi, are commemorated all over the Muslim world with festivals, public holidays and mass seas of green and white colors being displayed prominently.

The annual birthday parade was organized by the Rochdale Milad Committee, a collaborative of the town’s mosques.

Beginning on Crawford Street, the procession made its way through the Milkstone and Deeplish area and will complete its journey outside the Jamia Chashtia Mosque on Milkstone Road.

This year following a request from the community, Rochdale Borough Council has lit up Milkstone Road for the occasion with the traditional Eid illuminations, which are normally only displayed at the end of Ramadhan - the holy month of fasting.

Imam Irfan Chishti MBE, lead organizer 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 and the Muslims of Rochdale will today show that they are peace-loving, productive members of the community.”