125th annual flag hoisting ceremony of Dafther Jailani Mohiyadeen Masjid
Thursday, 23 January 2014 00:18
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The 125th annual flag hoisting at the Dafther Jailany rock cave mosque in Kuragala, Balangoda will take place on Friday 31 January 2014, and the annual Kandoori will take place on Sunday 2 March.
The rock cave mosque at Dafther Jailany, with its long history as a resting place for visitors from the south of Sri Lanka to Adam’s Peak, is associated with one of the greatest saints in Islamic history, Sheikh Mohiyadeen Abdul Qadir Gilani.
Since 1890, Muslims of Balangoda have recited a Mowlood in the lunar month of Rabi Ul-Akhir in honour of the saint without interruption for the past 124 years and in 2014, this will be the 125th such event.
In 2013, all buildings around the mosque were removed as the Archaeological Department began excavations at the site. However, a ruling was made that the mosque, built in 1922 will not be affected and the Muslims could continue to conduct religious observances as they have been doing in the past.
The trustees of Dafther Jailany have taken all measures to ensure best possible facilities for pilgrims who will attend the flag hoisting and the annual feast and will ensure that the 125th celebrations of this holy place will continue without interruption. They urge the pilgrims to bear with them while the short and long term plans that have been developed by them for facilities catering to the needs of the pilgrims, are implemented.
Pilgrims are invited to attend the flag hoisting and kandoori and visit Dafther Jailani as they have been doing in the years past and to make the 125th year of the flag hoisting a year of celebration.
