The city of Salé commemorates the Prophet’s birthday with a candle procession

On the occasion of the celebration of the nativity of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed in the year 1446 of the Hegira, the city of Salé lived to the rhythm of the solemn candle procession, an age-old cultural event dating back to the sixteenth century and commonly referred to by the local population as ‘the parade or moussem of waxes’. Followed and acclaimed by an overflowing crowd in jubilation, this festive procession of a multitude of candle towers in shimmering colours, in the shape of minarets adorned with alveoli made of wax and bearing inscriptions to the glory of Allah and the ‘Baraka’ of his ultimate messenger, This sumptuous procession winds its way through the narrow streets and main thoroughfares of the old medina of Salé, passing through the Place Achouhada (Bab Bouhaja) and ending at the mausoleum of Sidi Abdellah Benhassoun.  In addition to the Chorfas Hassouni, the parade included schoolchildren carrying their Leuh (a wooden board on which verses from the Koran are written), as well as folklore and panegyric groups from different regions of the Kingdom.

The ceremony, organised under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, was attended by a number of personalities, including the governor of the city of Salé, the president of the Salé commune, Mr Omar Sentissi, members of the commune council and the presidents of the arrondissement councils, as well as elected representatives and several ambassadors accredited to Morocco.