Celebrations around the world

Eid Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated in most Muslim countries, and in other countries where Muslims have a presence, such as India, Britain, Russia and Canada. Saudi Arabia is the only Muslim country where Eid Milad-un-Nabi is not an official public holiday. Participation in the ritual celebration of popular Islamic holidays is seen as an expression of the Islamic revival.
Where Milad is celebrated in a carnival manner, large street processions are held and homes or mosques are decorated. Charity and food is distributed. During Pakistan’s Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebration, the national flag is hoisted on all public buildings, and a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and a 21-gun salute at the provincial headquarters are fired at dawn.
The cinemas show religious rather than secular films on 11th and 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal. Hundreds of thousands of people gather at Minar-e-Pakistan Lahore between the intervening night of 11th and 12th Rabi’ al-awwal for Milad celebrations, this is the worlds biggest gathering for Milad celebrations. Among non-Muslim countries, India is noted for its Eid Milad-un-Nabi festivities. Islamic relics are displayed after the morning prayers in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir at the Hazratbal Shrine, on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Shab-khawani night-long prayers held at the Hazratbal Shrine are attended by thousands. Other non-Muslim countries noted for its Milad festivities are Kenya and Tanzania where it is known as ‘Maulidi’. In Kenya, the most famous place is the coastal island of Lamu and Malindi. In Tanzania the largest celebrations are on the island of Zanzibar. In many parts of Indonesia, the celebration of the Eid Milad-un-Nabi “seems to surpass in importance, liveliness, and splendour” the two official Islamic holidays of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Azha.