The Durbar horse festival is a festival held during the Muslim Eid celebrations.
According to BBC, it is the first time in more than 200 years that the three-day durbar, or horse parading ceremony, in Kano has been called off. Officials said it was being cancelled as the Emir of Kano was in poor health.
Last week, a devotional retreat that takes place towards the end of Ramadan was cancelled due to security concerns.
The ritual is referred to as "i'tikaf" when some people spend the last 10 days of Muslim fasting month in seclusion praying in mosques. Analysts say another reason for the durbar's cancellation may be continued concerns about security and the campaign of violence being waged by the Islamist group Boko Haram.
Galloping horsemen
In a statement, palace official Abbas Sanusi said the Emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero, could not go ahead with the durbar festival, known as Hawan Sallah, because of his "fragile" health. The emir's palace said the public should pray for his recovery and for peace to return to Kano state.
The BBC's Yusuf Yakasai in Kano city says it is not clear from what illness the emir is suffering. The traditional ruler, who has been on the throne for 49 years, had been to the UK in July for medical treatment.
Thousands of people - mainly Muslims from the Hausa ethnic group - normally attend the durbar, a parade performed by galloping horsemen during Eid, which is due to take place this weekend.
The emir is expected to ride a horse for three days, as the durbar honours the power and heritage of the Hausa community - one of the largest in Nigeria.
The cancellation has caused much disappointment in Kano and although most people accept that the emir's illness caused the cancellation, a few people suspect that security concerns also led to the decision.
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