Over nine days, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin travelled across the Kathiawad region of Gujarat, visiting 19 towns between 19 and 27 November 2025. These towns have been home to Dawoodi Bohra communities for centuries, with many Bohras having migrated to other cities in India and across the world over the years.
The visit began in Jamnagar, a city of great historical importance to the Dawoodi Bohras and the resting place of four predecessors of His Holiness. The Mazare Badri (mausoleum) there continues to draw thousands of community members each year who come to pay their respects.
Throughout the visit, His Holiness addressed community members through sermons and interacted with them while also visiting their homes and businesses. These interactions provided opportunities for individuals to discuss their personal and professional lives and seek guidance on a range of issues, including economic well-being, and educating and nurturing the younger generation.
Engagement with children stood out as a defining feature of the visit. One community member recalled His Holiness stressing the importance of teachers and the duty of respecting them, reinforcing education as central to character and personal growth.
The visit also reflected strong goodwill between the community and the wider local population. In several villages, residents welcomed His Holiness by showering flowers on his convoy, a customary gesture of respect.
Local residents also assisted with logistical arrangements. “Given the large gatherings expected, local citizens went out of their way to help,” said a community member. “In Babra, a local businessman, Shaukat Anwar, paused operations at his cotton mill to provide sufficient space to accommodate all visitors,” he continued.
During a sermon in Vinchiya, His Holiness cautioned against excessive time spent on social media. He urged both young and older audiences to remain disciplined with their time, and cautioned them regarding the negative effects of prolonged screen exposure. He encouraged diligence and sustained effort, warning against the appeal of sudden wealth driven by digital influence.
Vinchiya’s visit also included a meeting with Gujarat’s Cabinet Minister for Water Supply, Kunwarji Bawariya, who exchanged greetings and thanked His Holiness for his visit.
The final leg of the itinerary included Kotra Pitha, home to just three Dawoodi Bohra families and a nearly 135-year-old masjid. His Holiness visited the masjid and encouraged community members to cherish it through regular gatherings. Reflecting his emphasis on personal outreach, community representative Murtaza Akolawala noted that His Holiness also travelled to Aatkot—a village without a permanent community settlement—to visit a community member’s shop.
At Lathi, the penultimate stop, His Holiness spoke about tawfeeq, the inner drive to pursue good deeds. He emphasised self-motivation, active participation, and the importance of avoiding inertia in personal and community life.
Dawoodi Bohra communities across Kathiawad form part of an ancestral landscape that has produced a thriving global diaspora. Through these visits, His Holiness continues to reinforce cultural values, strengthen personal bonds, and inspire community members to live with purpose while contributing positively to the societies they call home.
