Before coming to Mazahir Uloom, I had learned through friends and acquaintances studying here that there is a rural village near Saharanpur where the residents, once a year, host all the students, teachers, and staff of Mazahir Uloom in a rural style feast. In this feast, they especially offer sugarcane juice kheer (sweet rice pudding) and, for years now, biryani has also been arranged (it is possible that something else was offered before). In addition to this, there is a free arrangement for tea or coffee and paan (betel leaf) for those who desire it. Hearing this reminded me of the feast given by the teachers of Darul Uloom Deoband, which a kind-hearted common person from Deoband used to arrange at the end of the year with the profits earned from his annual hard work. All the teachers not only happily participated in it but also looked forward to it. The same was the case and the same feelings were found among the students and teachers here regarding this feast. From the beginning of the year, I myself mentioned this feast to my companions many times and eagerly awaited it.
While waiting, the dates of Rajab arrived, and the Jalsa Dastar Bandi (Convocation Ceremony) was also announced in Mazahir Uloom Waqf Saharanpur. During those days, someone informed us that on 23rd Rajab, corresponding to 13th January, Tuesday, there is a feast for the students of Mazahir Uloom Dar-e-Jadeed (New Building), and the following Tuesday, i.e., 30th Rajab, corresponding to 20th January, is for Mazahir Uloom Qadeem (Old Building) and its branches. After this information, we started waiting for the day of the feast with great joy and happiness and continued to enjoy discussing it until it arrived. Eventually, an announcement of this feast, under the title "Announcement of Kheer Feast," also became an adornment of the wall on behalf of the university.
Departure for Dabki
The truth is that from the day the date of this feast was determined and known, we started waiting for it with great enthusiasm. Finally, that Tuesday morning also dawned, which was hiding the feast under its shadow. From the morning, the thought of the feast was dominating my mind and brain. The arrangement for transportation was also from the residents of "Dabki," in which they had dedicated several buses solely for the arrival and departure of the students. The departure was scheduled to begin at half-past nine in the morning. A little after the appointed time, this writer also came down to the main gate with two companions (Muhammad Akram and Muhammad Asad). Upon arriving here, we learned that one or two buses had already left filled with students and it might take half an hour for them to return. Anyway, in this way, it was almost eleven o'clock while waiting. Now we finally got a place on the bus, and it really was just a place. There was only room to stand in the bus. Seeing the crowd, the thought of sitting on a seat did not even cross our minds. Anyway, in fifteen to twenty minutes, we reached Dabki. After getting off the bus, we walked a short distance. The arrangement for food was in the upper three-sided hall of the mosque. Banners of 'Ahlan wa Sahlan' (Welcome) and 'Khush Amdeed' (Welcome) were refreshing the mind and brain along the way. When we reached the mosque, there was a huge crowd. Some students were returning after eating, some were going to eat, and some were sitting in the mosque and the courtyard of the mosque waiting for their turn. We also kept circling the mosque and the courtyard of the mosque waiting for our turn. The wait prolonged and hunger also reached its peak. In short, after a very long wait, our turn came at the dining table. At that time, it was the last sitting of the students, and perhaps we were the last even in that last sitting.
Sugarcane Juice Kheer: A New Taste
As soon as we got the chance, we made our place at the dining table. First of all, sugarcane juice kheer was presented to us in a bucket, along with delicious milk which was filled in pots in a completely rural style. For many, this sugarcane kheer was nothing different from porridge. In their opinion, this sugarcane kheer was merely the addition of milk to porridge. For some new but delicious tasters, it was something to turn their faces away from before eating, but after eating, the focus of their discussion and mention was this sugarcane kheer. The difference in comments before and after eating was extraordinary. After the kheer, rather along with it, biryani also adorned the dining table. We enjoyed both things to our heart's content. In addition to this, the arrangement of coffee in the courtyard of the mosque was also very pleasant. We were very impressed by the love, generosity, and munificence of the villagers and many prayers came out for them.
Jazahum Allahu Khairan Kathira wa Ahsanal Jazaa (May Allah reward them abundantly and with the best reward)
Abdullah Yusuf
Shaban Al-Muazzam 1447 AH.
End of January 2026 AD.