Abu El Haggag Moulid Luxor

Abu El Haggag Moulid Luxor

Luxor located in the Upper (southern) Egypt is a popular tourist destination. It enthralls the tourists with its ancient architectural wonders and fascinating historical sites such as the splendid Luxor Temple, the awe-inspiring Karnak Temple, the Valley of the Kings, Colossi of Memnon and et cetera. Apart from this, Luxor is a vibrant city with myriad colors and culture. The city plays a host to numerous festivals which are a mélange of entertainment and religion. You get a glimpse of Egyptian life once you become a part of it or learn about these festivals!

The Abu El Haggag Moulid is one such festival that is observed every year, two weeks before the commencement of Ramadan. Yussef Abu el-Haggag, the patron sheikh was born in Damascus in 1150 AD, moved to Mecca when he was around forty and finally settled in Luxor. In the Luxor city he established a zawiyah (spiritual retreat) before his death around1245 AD. This mosque dedicated to the sheikh in the thirteenth century is located within the site of the historical Temple of Luxor.

This street festival of Moulid of Abu el-Haggag is celebrated for two days.
The term Moulid in Arabic means birthday. Moulid refers to the celebration of birthday of a holy personality and in Egypt and in Egypt these celebrations are held for saints of both the Christian and Islamic faiths.
The most interesting part of the Moulid of Abu el-Haggag festival that draws a horde of visitors is the pageant of large boats in the crowed streets of Luxor. The procession bears a resemblance to the solar barque processions of the Pharaonic epoch. According to the Islamic symbolism, the boats signify the quest for spiritual enlightenment. Other events like horse races, dance, music and tahtibs or stick fights with the accompaniment of drum beats, adds much to the entertainment.

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