http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Maulidi cultural festival kicks off in Lamu [The Source: Lamu//hadhramout.info///www.standardmedia.co.k - 03/02/2011] Muslim pilgrims have started flocking to Lamu Island for the annual Maulidi Cultural festival. Sheikh Muhdar Khitamy, who is the main organiser at the Lamu’s Riadha Mosque and Islamic Centre, said this year’s festivals has attracted more than 25,000 pilgrims from east Africa and beyond. Khitamy said 30 bulls donated by volunteers would be slaughtered at the mosque to feed Muslims attending the weeklong festivities. Khitamy explained that ‘Maulid’ is the Arabic word for birth, and is often used in reference to the Prophet Muhammad. It’s a highly regarded holy celebration, usually held in the third Islamic lunar month of ‘Rabil awaal’. Economy boosted Prophet Muhammad, who is the founder of the Islam, was born during the year of the ‘Elephants’, identified to be between AD 570 and AD 568. The Sheikh said the first public celebration took place in Egypt some 400 years after the death of the Prophet in the Eighth century, before spreading to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, and many countries of the world, including Kenya. The Sheikh is one the grandsons of an Islamic Scholar and traditional medicine man, Habib Swaleh from Commoro Island. Swaleh initiated the East African version of the Maulid in Lamu in the 19th century, and founded the Riadha Mosque, which has to date became a vital Islamic religious centre. Attend to the needy Khitamy said a free medical camp has been set at the mosque’s compound with over 100 Kenyan Muslim Doctors and Kenya Red Cross officials ready to attend to the needy during the festivals. Traditional dances According to the Programme from the Organising Committee, the Festivals, which started yesterday takes place in and around the Riadha Mosque and at the Islamic Centre. Traditional dances from the nearby Islands will be performed by local groups around the central square of the Mosque in the afternoons, while night prayers will be staged inside the Mosque. The climax of the celebrations will be on Friday when a mass religious procession of Muslims will walk along the Island’s Sea front, through the narrow streets chanting religious songs and beating drums all in praise of prophet Muhammad. Economy boosted During the week, the island’s economy is expected to be boosted from the hundreds of the visiting pilgrims.