LAHORE The nation will observe Eid Milad-un-Nabi today (Wednesday) to celebrate the birth of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with religious reverence and fervour. The day will begin with a 31-gun salute at the federal capital and 21-gun salute at all the provincial capitals while special prayers will be offered for the security, solidarity and prosperity of the country in particular and Mulsim Ummah in general. It will be a public holiday and all offices and business centres will be closed. The electronic and print media will highlight the significance of the day by airing special programs. People from all walks of life have completed arrangements to observe the Day with fervour and zeal. On the occasion, hundreds of processions and Seerat conferences will be held all over the country to mark the auspicious celebrations. In Lahore the central Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession will be taken out from Railway Station and march up to Data Darbar, while dozens of small processions from different parts of the city will merge with the central procession. The participants of the procession will be showered with rose petals and rose water from aeroplanes. The extensive preparations culminated on Tuesday night with the taking out a torchbearer procession under the aegis of Central Milad Committee from Data Darbar. The participants riding vehicles, motorbikes, and on foot marched at The Mall up to the Regal Chowk, carrying torches and reciting Darood and Naats. Most of the city mosques and important buildings have already been decorated with lightings, flower beads and buntings.