Ethiopia's Muslims on Saturday marked the birthday of Islam's prophet Muhammad with a major and colorful celebration at the Grand Anwar Mosque, the largest and oldest Islamic house of prayer in the Ethiopian capital.
Similar events were also held in different parts across this country to commemorate the birthday of Islam's prophet.
The prophet's birthday is, however, a special day for Ethiopia's Muslims who always take pride in being the descendants of people who hundreds of years ago gave refuge to some of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad when they escaped persecution in the Arabian Peninsula.
On Saturday, Muslims arrived in large numbers at the mosque, which is located at the heart of the open-air Merkato market, from the early hours of the morning.
Apart from ordinary Ethiopian Muslims, a host of officials of the Islamic affairs councils of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa and Oromia also attended the event, which was market by joy and piety.
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