Moulid Festival of Abu'l Hajjaj
Every year the city of Luxor explodes in celebration of a local Muslim holy man
Abu Hajjaj Mosque Seen Through the Columns of Luxor Temple (2016-07-06)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Birthday Festival
In the shadow of Luxor’s ancient Egyptian temple, thousands of Egyptians gather every year to celebrate the moulid, or birthday festival, of Sheikh Yusuf Abu’l-Hajjaj.
A Man of God
A Muslim scholar and teacher, Abu’l Hajjaj was born in Baghdad and traveled to Luxor as a youth. He quickly gained a reputation in the area for his wisdom and piety.
By Eliot ElisofonLIFE Photo Collection
Capturing Luxor
Local legend claims that when Abu'l Hajjaj arrived in Luxor, he encountered the Roman Queen Tarzah. He asked her only for a camel hide to sleep on, from which he wove a string and wrapped it around the city. In some versions, the conquered queen eventually converts to Islam.
"Give us Your Grace"
The three-day festival starts with the arrival of believers from all over Egypt. Each has their own reasons for attending and feel drawn to certain rituals. In this 1990 documentary by Elizabeth Wickett, a visiting pilgrim explains why she and her family attend the moulid every year.
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The Saint's Shrine
Pilgrims visit the tomb of the saint, the focal point of the celebration, to bring offerings, chant, and pray.
The Egyptian Epic
Popular singers perform traditional holy songs to honor the saint in front of large crowds. Here Awad’Ullah Abdeljelil sings the "Egyptian Epic".
Veneration in Motion
Believers lose themselves in trance-like dance, embodying the spirit of the holy festivities.
Children on Swings at MoulidAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Joy and Celebration
Like many fairs and festivals, food, drinks, games, and entertainment are an important part of the festivities.
There are also contests of equestrian games and “stick dancing”, a type of ritual combat.
Man Selling Foods at a Moulid Festival by UnknownAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
Religious Harmony
Both Coptic Christian and Muslim saints are venerated in Egyptian moulids. Religious differences are set aside and Christian and Muslims feast together during moulids and participate in each other's traditions to show respect to the holy figures and one another.
Luxor Temple Square (2018-11-11)American Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
The Power of Moulids
An attitude of mutual cooperation and respect and is central to the moulid celebration, and an important means of building community strength and personal spiritual wellbeing.
Ancient Roots
For centuries, pilgrims have travelled to Luxor to participate in the festival to receive blessings and good will for the rest of the year. It is a grand, communal act of veneration, which includes many ancient traditions.
The Holy Boats
One of the most important traditions is the grand procession. Special holy boats dedicated to the saint are prepared, a custom passed down from the ancient Egyptians.
Ostracon painted on both Sides depiicting a Man referred to as Neferhotep with Linear Bouquet in front of the ram-headed Barque of God Amun and the Head of a Ram (God). by UnknownNeues Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
The Opet Festival
In the ancient Opet festival, priests carried cult statues of deities enshrined on ritual boats, or barques. As with today’s moulids, the ancient Egyptians venerated the deities with chanting, music, and offerings.
Traveling to and from Abydos by boat (2009-03) by Katy DoyleAmerican Research Center In Egypt (ARCE)
The Trip to Afterlife
Boats were also significant to funerary rituals as they transported the deceased into the afterlife.
The Procession
Just as the ancient Opet procession traveled from Karnak Temple to the banks of the Nile, the moulid procession moves through the city to Luxor Temple and the mosque of Abu’l Hajjaj. Descendants of the Sheikh still live in Luxor and participate in the festival.
During ancient processions, the priests would make stops to eat and drink. This tradition continues in today's moulids. People stop along the procession route to enjoy cold drinks and ingest blessings.
Service for the Saint
The festivities culminate in a reverent ceremony for the saint before the pilgrims return to trains and buses to journey home.
Receiving Blessings
The moulid is a way to gather the community of believers to celebrating the year that has passed and receiving blessings for the one to come.
Traditions of Veneration
From ancient Egypt to today, the gathering of a community of believers to venerate holy figures is at the core of spiritual life.
Video clips courtesy of Elizabeth Wickett from her documentary For Those Who Sail to Heaven 1990. (© Elizabeth Wickett.)
Story by Tessa Litecky
This story was created in association with a museum exhibition and academic conference titled Exalted Spirits: The Veneration of the Dead in Egypt through the Ages, jointly organized by The American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), The American University in Cairo (AUC), and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA) in Egypt.
