Dargah Trust to cut down on celebrations

For this year's Mahim fair procession, the trustees of the Mahim Dargah plan to sensitise over 350 'sandal' groups, devotees who offer flowers, shawl and sandalwood, to not beat the drums and use loudspeakers during their visit to the Dargah, keeping in mind the strict directions from the Bombay High Court to enforce noise pollution norms.

More than 350 'sandal' groups, and lakhs of devotees, participate in the procession to Mahim Dargah, to pay their respects to Hazrat Makhdum Ali Mahimi, a Sufi saint. "We have framed guidelines to make sure that the processions carried out are peaceful and no laws are broken," said Sohel Khandwani, managing trustee of Pir Makhdum Saheb charitable trust.

Dr Mudassir Lambe, trustee, added, "We will be asking devotees to follow the HC guidelines and to not violate any norms. We have been holding these processions as an age-old tradition. We will make sure that the 'sandals' take cognisance of the issue. Muftis and scholars of Mahim Dargah will urge devotees to not use loudspeakers as it is not permitted according to the Shariyat law and respects should be paid to the saint in a peaceful manner without causing any inconvenience to the public," said Lambe.