Muslim world of one billion faithfuls is abuzz with Maulidi festivities marking the birthday of the founder of Islam, Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW), writes Mohamed Warsama.The 1430 AH (2009 AD) edition of the annual Noorain Mosque Maulidi - the ninth since the mosque was built by tycoon Tahir Sheikh Said aka TSS- took place at the weekend amid a blaze of much religious colour and animation.It came hard on the heels of the main Mombasa maulidi at Makadara Grounds on Monday last week, and just six days before the biggest Maulidi of all in Eastern and Central Africa at Lamu, which this year is expected to attract 50,000 devotees.Youth from various religious schools as far a field as Lushoto , Tanzania , paraded in the zefe procession of the Noorain Maulidi.They included Madrassatul Shadirin of Lushoto, Madrassatul Nur of Bomani in Msambweni, M. Rasuli of Port Reitz, Brainsworth Group of Schools, Akram Madrassa of Bondeni, Mombasa, Noorain Madrassa, Fauzi M., Imam Shaffi M. of Mtwapa, M. Falah of Tiwi, M. Iman of Tiwi, Quratul Ayni of Kisauni, M. Nassir of Kisauni, M. Swalihina of Kisauni, Markazul Haddad of Watamu and Ikhlass Elders Group from Msambweni.Also on hand were a group of Egyptian tutors from Azhar Islamic University, one of the most respected centres of Islamic teaching in the world, plus a locaql representative from Qadiriya sect who defended the practice of Dhikr in Islamic forms of cultism, saying it was not a bidaa (innovation) in Islam.All school groups were given sets of Quran and boxes of chalks.The Noorain Maulidi began at 10.00 a.m. and stopped for lunch, resuming in the late afternoon.Participants were also served halwa (Turkish delight), cakes, biscuits and orange juices.