JOIN US Alipur, a small village in the taluk with a predominant Muslim population, has geared up for Bakrid celebrations.
More than 90 pc of the population in Alipur belong to Muslim community. The village is dotted with mosques built in various architectural styles. Prayers are offered in every place of worship on a daily basis.
Alipur is a small Shia village off State Highway 94, about 70 km away from Bangalore. It is sometimes referred to as ‘mini Iran.’ Anjuman-e-Jaafria, Madrassa Hussainia, Zainabiya High School, Behisht-e-Ali graveyard, Al-Abbas Boys Hostel and a several onion-domed mosques are located here. This unique village has a Shia population of about 10,000. It has produced a number of Urdu poets.
A good number of youth are engaged in the cutting and polishing, but lack of training and skill takes them no higher in the business.
Centuries ago
The village was known as Belligunta 300 years ago. It began to attract the attention following arrival of Syed Mustafa Hussaini, an Abidi Sadat following the downfall of Adil Shahi kingdom of Bijapur. Hussaini and his wife Bathoola settled down here.
Much later poet-scholar Mohammad Shaffi Baqari arrived from Hyderabad 150 years ago. He founded the Madrassa Jafria. His son Abbas Baqari who lived upto an age of 115 years, put in a lot of effort and taught a lot of people in and around the village. He founded the Anjuman Jafria, which today controls the mosques, ashurkhanas, madrassa, eidgah and graveyard.
The whole village wears a new look on the occasion of Ramzan and Bakrid festivals. Prayers are held under the leadership of community elders. The village converges at Idga-E-Haidari on the festival day to offer special prayers.
“We wear immaculate white clothes on Bakrid day and assemble at a prominent place in the village. We later proceed in a procession to Idga-E-Haidari for festival prayers. We give gifts to people of all communities on the occasion of Bakrid,” said Syed Azhar Hussein, the moulana.
Hussein said Bakrid signifies sacrifice and harmonious living. Sheep, goats or chicken are sacrificed and the meat is divided into three parts. One part is distributed among poor people, the second part is shared with neighbours and relatives, and the third part is used by the family.
Syed Mehdi Hussein, a resident, said Alipur has assumed a significance in the whole of South India and the Muslim community in the village has a history of about 300 years. He said the village is known for its peaceful and tranquil life and any dispute is settled under the guidance of community elders.