Millions of Yemenis gathered across the country on Tuesday to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, in one of Yemen’s largest religious occasions of the year.

The main celebration was held at Al-Sabeen Square in the capital Sanaa, where enormous crowds converged from the early morning hours, filling the square and surrounding streets with worshippers carrying green flags and banners and reciting praises and devotional chants. Yemen’s state-run Saba news agency described the gathering as the largest mass celebration held in Sanaa for the occasion.

By the afternoon, the central square had become densely packed, while thousands more continued arriving through the surrounding roads. Participants gathered from different parts of Yemen, turning the capital into a vast scene of religious devotion and celebration.

A sea of green across Sanaa

The celebrations were marked by green flags, banners bearing religious messages and large displays honoring the Prophet Muhammad.

Participants repeatedly chanted expressions of love and devotion, including “Here we are, O Messenger of Allah,” while religious chants, nasheeds and devotional poetry echoed throughout Al-Sabeen Square.

The scale of the gathering extended well beyond the central venue, with surrounding roads also filled with participants. Footage from the event showed extensive crowds occupying Al-Sabeen Square and nearby streets.

The participation also extended beyond Sanaa. Thousands of Yemenis from southern and eastern governorates traveled in decorated convoys to the capital, with vehicles illuminated by green lights as they made their way toward the central celebration.

Nationwide celebrations

Mawlid activities were held simultaneously in major squares and communities across Yemen.

In the weeks leading up to Tuesday’s central gathering, neighborhoods, mosques and public spaces hosted religious lectures, cultural evenings, devotional gatherings and performances of traditional Yemeni nasheeds and prophetic praises.

Preparations for the main celebrations included extensive organizational, technical and logistical arrangements. Officials said large screens, sound systems, entrances, roads and parking areas had been prepared to accommodate the large number of participants.

The celebrations also featured illuminated processions. Earlier this month, more than 156 trucks decorated with green lights took part in a large procession in Sanaa as part of the Mawlid festivities.

Religious devotion and remembrance

For many participants, the Mawlid represents an opportunity to renew their connection with the Prophet’s life, teachings and moral example.

Religious speakers and organizers emphasized the Prophet’s compassion, justice, courage and devotion to the Muslim community, calling on Yemenis to reflect those values in their daily lives.

The crowds recited traditional nasheeds associated with the Prophet’s arrival in Medina, including “Tala’a al-Badru ‘Alayna,” while religious poetry and chants created a festive and spiritual atmosphere throughout the capital.

The celebrations were also presented by organizers as an expression of Yemen’s religious identity and its longstanding attachment to the Prophet and the Islamic tradition.

Al-Houthi addresses the crowds

Ansarullah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi addressed the massive gathering, congratulating Yemenis on the occasion and emphasizing the religious significance of commemorating the Prophet’s birth.

In his address, al-Houthi linked the Mawlid celebration to Yemen’s contemporary political and regional outlook, calling for steadfastness in the face of what he described as external pressure and threats against Yemen.

He also reiterated Yemen’s support for the Palestinian cause, presenting the country’s position on Palestine as part of its broader commitment to defending Muslims and supporting those facing oppression.

The gathering therefore combined religious celebration with political messaging, with participants reaffirming their support for Palestine and Yemen’s stated regional positions.

Mawlid becomes a major national event

The scale of Tuesday’s celebrations reflects the importance of Mawlid within the religious and cultural life of large sections of Yemeni society.

The central Sanaa event was preceded by weeks of preparations and local celebrations throughout the country. In different governorates, communities organized lectures, religious evenings and cultural programs centered on the Prophet’s life and teachings.

The celebrations also included participation by women in dedicated venues, while families and communities decorated streets, homes, mosques and public spaces with green lights and banners.

For supporters of the celebrations, the massive turnout represents more than a religious ceremony: it is a public expression of love for the Prophet, solidarity among Yemenis and attachment to Islamic values.

As the crowds gathered under the banner of the Prophet Muhammad, the event served as a powerful display of religious devotion, cultural identity and Yemen’s continuing commitment to the causes its organizers describe as central to the Muslim world, particularly the Palestinian cause. (ILKHA)