If you’re ever in the Essaouira region in late March/early April you might just happen upon the Regraga Festival.
The Regraga originate from the Chiadma region to the north of Essaouira, and their ancestors are said to have made the Hajj to Mecca, received the blessing of the Prophet and introduced the Quran to Morocco.
Every year they and a host of pilgrims go on a marathon 38-day tour of shrines across the region, erecting holy tents and bestowing ‘baraka’ on the crowds who follow them. The Essaouira ‘leg’ of the tour, which normally takes place on a Thursday in early April, is renowned for being the most hospitable, with Gnaoua musicians accompanying the cortege and all manner of spiritual rapture to be witnessed.
Look out especially for the ‘laaroussa’ – a man dressed in white and riding a white mare, to represent spiritual purity. And if you want a blessing, have a little gift or a few dirhams ready…