01/07/2025
Attended the Dawoodi Bohra community’s Ashara Mubaraka 2025 commemorations held in Colombo—a spiritually significant and exceptionally well-organised event that brought together over 15,000 members of the community from more than 20 countries.
Led globally by His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, the Dawoodi Bohra community is known for its deep-rooted values of education, entrepreneurship, compassion, and civic responsibility. These values were on full display throughout the ten-day gathering, which featured live-telecast sermons delivered by His Holiness from Chennai, India. The sessions offered profound insight into faith, justice, and service to humanity—messages that resonate far beyond religious boundaries.
The Sri Lankan Bohra community, with a long-established presence dating back to 1830, demonstrated remarkable hospitality and organisational excellence. The main venues—Husaini Masjid in Bambalapitiya and the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre—were thoughtfully prepared, ensuring comfort, accessibility, and a spirit of unity throughout the event.
Especially impressed by the meticulous attention to public welfare, including medical support, special arrangements for senior citizens and individuals with special needs, and the availability of nutritious, ISO-certified meals served with a strong commitment to zero food waste. Their environmental consciousness—from structured waste segregation to sustainable sourcing—reflects a powerful sense of responsibility and care.
What stood out most was the atmosphere of peace, discipline, and collective reflection. The event not only brought spiritual nourishment to its participants but also strengthened the cultural fabric of our nation by highlighting how religious gatherings can be both inclusive and impactful.
