Milad-un-Nabi is also known as Barawafat or Mawlid and marks the birth of the Prophet Muhammad. According to Islamic calendar the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad occurs in the third month, Rabi al-awwal. The celebration of Milad-un-Nabi origin is said to be have been since 11th century in the Fatimid dynasty.The birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet is remembered on 12th Rabi-ul-Awwal of the Islamic lunar calendar year by all Muslims.
The Holy Quran was revealed by the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The same day marks the birth anniversary of the Holy Prophet.
In India and some other parts of the sub-continent Milad-un-Nabi is popularly known as as Barawafat . The word barah stands for the twelve days of the Prophet s sickness.
Mawlid falls in the month of Rabi al-awwal in the Islamic calendar. Shias observe the event on the 17th of the month, coinciding with the birth date of their sixth Imam, Ja far al-Sadiq, while Sunnis observe it on the 12th of the month. The dates of celebrations in the Gregorian calendar varies each year.
To read about this festival in Hindi click here