At top, traditional Attan dancers perform Wednesday at Northlands AgriCom during a celebration of the Aga Khan's 50th year as the imam of Ismaili Muslims worldwide. - Chris Schwarz, The Journal
Anna Mehler Paperny, The Edmonton Journal
Published: Thursday, July 12
EDMONTON
Amir Merali's life changed forever the day he met the Aga Khan.
It was 1957 and the 18-year-old scout was lucky enough to get sent to the airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to greet the religious leader.
"It was so exciting. This was the first time he had come to Dar es Salaam as imam and I was chosen from 100 scouts to go to the airport," Merali said. "When I met him, he just told me, 'I give you my blessings'-- that was it and that changed my life."
At top, traditional Attan dancers perform Wednesday at Northlands AgriCom during a celebration of the Aga Khan's 50th year as the imam of Ismaili Muslims worldwide. - Chris Schwarz, The Journal
Merali said meeting the Aga Khan motivated him to do more for his community: he worked for the Diamond Trust bank, part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.
Fifty years later, Merali joined thousands of other Ismailis to celebrate their spiritual leader's golden jubilee.
The Aga Khan is the imam, or spiritual leader, of the world's 15 million Ismaili Muslims. He's believed to be a direct descendant of the prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, through the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law.
Kushiali, the anniversary of his coronation as Aga Khan, is celebrated every year on July 11. Because this year marks the 50th, a large-scale party was in order.
By noon Wednesday, about 3,000 people were crowding into Northlands AgriCom and wishing each other a happy holiday.
Between arts and crafts activities, poetry readings, prayers, dancing, meals and a telecast from the Aga Khan in France, festivities were to continue until 2 a.m. There are about 4,000 Ismailis in Edmonton.
Volunteer Tamizan Kherami said this is an opportunity for the community and extended families to get together.
"We have people coming from California, Fort McMurray, Red Deer and Vancouver," she said.
"I guess Edmonton is known for having a good party."
Participants at the party were as diverse as the Ismaili community: Naheed Rajabali was born in Kenya; Uzma Rajam's parents are from Pakistan; Merali was born in Zanzibar but moved to Dar es Salaam before coming to Canada in 1975; the dancers onstage wore costumes and swayed to music from Afghanistan and India.
Rajabali said Edmonton's Ismaili community is an amalgamation of people from all over the globe.
"That's reflective of our inherent appreciation for diversity and pluralism."