“Come, take whatever you need for free.” Standing beside the stream of thousands of people, Moinuddin Mamun repeatedly called out to passers-by with the invitation.
In front of him were several tables arranged with jars of sherbet, bottles of water, packets of biscuits and pieces of bread. Some stopped for a glass of sherbet. Others collected food for accompanying children or elderly relatives. Some walked away slowly with biscuit packets in their hands, blending into the huge crowd moving along the procession route.
Around them, Chattogram was overflowing with people. Some carried green flags, while others recited Naat and Darood. The chant of “Ya Nabi Salam Alaika” mixed with volunteers’ calls — “Have some sherbet”, “Take water”, “Take food”.
The scene unfolded at Bibirhat on Wednesday along the route of the 55th Jasne Julus organised to mark Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH).
But this was not an isolated arrangement. Along the long procession route, a vast network of people serving people had emerged through countless small initiatives.
In some places, individuals arranged the distribution. Elsewhere, businessmen, local organisations, groups of friends and families set up food stalls beside the roads.
Sherbet, water, biscuits, bread, dates and biryani — people brought whatever they could afford. No money was taken in return.
At a massive religious gathering of hundreds of thousands of people, these small arrangements of food and hospitality told a larger story of compassion, generosity and expressing love for the Prophet (PBUH) through service to others.
Organisers expected more than 5 million people to join this year’s procession. Alongside the administration, around 10,000 volunteers from Anjuman-e-Rahmania Ahmadia Sunnia Trust were deployed to maintain discipline and provide support.
Hospitality grows as crowds pass Bibirhat
As the massive procession moved through Bibirhat, the crowd on both sides of the road became denser.
Many participants who had been walking for hours showed signs of fatigue. At that moment, several stopped in front of the sherbet stalls along the route.
One person finished a glass of sherbet and returned it, while another waited behind. Some families stood together as children received biscuit packets. Many took food without stopping for long, resting briefly before merging again into the flowing crowd.
At the centre of one such arrangement was Moinuddin Mamun, a businessman involved in the iron trade.
On his own initiative, he arranged sherbet, biscuits and bread for people joining the procession. He said the value of the arrangement could not be measured in money.
“I am very happy to serve the devotees of the Prophet. There is no charge here. People can take whatever they need. As long as people keep coming, we will try to provide food and sherbet,” he said.
Mamun did not know most of the people receiving food, and many of them did not know him either. Yet, for a few moments, a bond was created between them — one person giving and another accepting with gratitude.
At a huge religious gathering like Jasne Julus, no identity card is needed for such a connection.
‘I came from far away, a glass of sherbet brought great relief’
Abdullah came from Hathazari to take part in the Jashne Julus. He left home early in the morning and joined the procession after reaching the city along with the stream of people. He stopped at a sherbet stall in the Bibirhat area.
“I have come from a long distance. After walking for so long, having a glass of sherbet felt very refreshing. I also took some biscuits. The best thing is that no one is asking for money here. All these arrangements have been made only to serve people,” Abdullah said.
He added, “In such a large gathering, it is impossible to know everyone personally. But here, everyone seems to have become close to one another. Some are providing food, some are offering water and others are helping people find their way.”
One Julus, thousands of small initiatives
Although the formal centre of the Jasne Julus was located at one place, spontaneous participation by people spread across the entire procession route.
Tables were set up in front of business establishments with bottles of water and sherbet. At some points, local youths prepared sherbet in large drums. A few steps away, biscuits and bread were being distributed from another stall. Elsewhere, several people stood holding packets of cooked food for participants.
As crowds increased, volunteers quickly handed out food. When the rush eased, they prepared for the next round of distribution. However, no one was forcing anyone to take food, and participants were accepting the offerings without hesitation.
According to the organisers, these arrangements were made solely for people joining the Julus.
At one stall, an elderly man waiting for sherbet looked at a young man beside him and said, “You take it first.” The young man replied, “No, uncle, you have it first.”
That brief exchange of just a few seconds reflected another side of Chattogram beyond the massive gathering — a city where, even amid a crowd of hundreds of thousands, one stranger thinks about another.
Green flags line streets, Darood fills the air
Chattogram’s familiar landscape changed from early Wednesday morning as the city prepared for the 55th Jashne Julus.
From dawn, people from different upazilas and distant areas began heading towards Sholashahar. Various reports highlighted long queues of people and heavy crowds on city roads since the morning.
Green flags were placed along both sides of roads and on different structures. Decorative arches were built at important intersections and major roads. The combination of colourful attire, flags carried by participants and the religious atmosphere created a distinctive scene throughout the route.
At around 9:30am, the Julus began from Alimgir Khanqah-e-Qaderia Syedya Tayebia, adjacent to Jamea Ahmadia Sunnia Kamil Madrasah in Sholashahar, Chattogram.
Expecting 5 million, organisers make massive preparations
Anjuman-e-Rahmania Ahmadia Sunnia Trust took extensive preparations ahead of this year’s Jashne Julus.
At a press conference on 17 August, organisers said more than 5 million people could attend the procession scheduled for 26 August.
The procession was scheduled to be led by Allama Syed Muhammad Saber Shah, the Sajjadanishin Pir of Darbar-e-Siricot. Organisers also announced that around 10,000 volunteers would be deployed to maintain security and discipline during the event.
Considering the scale of the gathering, traffic movement along the Julus route was restricted. People were requested not to use vehicles on the route except authorised ones, while parking restrictions were also imposed.
However, beyond the large administrative arrangements, voluntary efforts and personal initiatives by ordinary people emerged as another major strength of the event.
A person with no official responsibility stood in front of his shop with a drum of sherbet.
A group of young people whose names appeared nowhere on any list moved through the crowd carrying bottles of water.
Some families prepared food from early morning and brought it only to distribute among people taking part in the Julus.
A feeling of service beyond charity
Distributing food along the Jasne Julus route is a long-standing tradition for many. But the scenes witnessed during the event showed that it was not merely a religious practice; it was also driven by personal emotion.
Those distributing food did not consider it charity. To them, it was a form of service.
Moinuddin Mamun said, “The joy comes from feeding people. So many people come from distant places. Many walk for hours. If we can offer them a glass of sherbet or arrange some food, that itself is a great achievement for us.”
The same spirit was visible at other arrangements along the route. When food ran out at one place, someone said, “Another batch is coming.” Elsewhere, volunteers were busy preparing fresh sherbet.
As the number of people increased, supplies also ran out quickly. But nowhere was the shortage seen as a burden. Instead, there was a renewed effort to arrange more.
It was not a competition over who could give more, but rather about who could stand beside people with greater sincerity.
From 1974 to today’s sea of people
The history of Jasne Julus in Chattogram stretches back more than five decades.
The event began in 1974, and over time its scale and number of participants have continued to grow.
According to organisers, Jasne Julus has now become one of the major parts of Chattogram’s religious and historical heritage.
Compared to its early days, the scale of the Julus has now expanded significantly. People no longer come only from Chattogram city; participants arrive from different upazilas including Hathazari, Fatikchhari, Raozan, Rangunia, Anwara and Patiya, as well as from various parts of the country.
Some come in groups, some with their families, some with friends, while others join alone.
However, once they arrive on the Julus route, they are united by a single identity — they have all come to participate in the same religious gathering. The food stalls set up along the roadside make this bond even stronger.
The story behind a glass of sherbet
Reports on large religious gatherings usually focus on the number of participants, security arrangements, leadership, routes and overall management. But within such a massive event, there are also thousands of small stories.
Moinuddin Mamun’s initiative at Bibirhat is one such story. A glass of sherbet received by Abdullah, who came from Hathazari, is another. The packet of biscuits handed to Rakib from Fatikchhari is also a story in itself.
Offering water to an elderly person, handing food to a child or providing a place for a tired passer-by to rest — such moments are rarely recorded in any official account.
Yet, at a Julus attended by hundreds of thousands of people, these acts of kindness often become the most memorable part.
By the end of the day, the roads may return to their usual appearance. The decorative arches will be removed, the crowds will disperse and the food tables will be packed away.
But for many who walked along the Julus route for hours, the memory of a glass of sherbet offered by a stranger or a piece of bread placed in their hands for free will remain.
