ALBAWABA - A lavish farewell for Hamo Bika father ignited online debate.
The funeral of the father of Egyptian festival singer Hamo Bika has become one of the most talked-about topics on social media after videos and photos from the event went viral.
Many users were surprised by the unusual design of the funeral venue. The setup featured a long red carpet, royal-style chairs, large chandeliers, and decorations that some described as more similar to a major event than a traditional funeral.
The controversy intensified after details emerged about the scale of the preparations and their reported cost.
According to statements made by Yassin El-Helily, owner of El-Helily Events and the organizer of the funeral, the preparations were completed in just a few hours despite the massive size of the venue.
El-Helily said work began at around 6 a.m. and continued until approximately 2 p.m. He explained that nearly 15 large trucks were used to transport the equipment needed for the event.
The funeral was held in an area of around 1,400 square meters. The venue reportedly included 800 royal chairs and nearly 600 chandeliers.
One of the most striking details was the use of a red carpet throughout the venue. The organizer explained that they made the decision due to the anticipated attendance of numerous prominent guests and public figures.
He explained that traditional funeral carpets were not suitable for the design they wanted to create, leading organizers to choose a red carpet instead.
The reported cost of the funeral also attracted significant attention. El-Helily stated that the arrangements cost around one million Egyptian pounds, a figure that quickly became a major topic of discussion online.
The funeral also featured Quran recitations by Sheikh Mahmoud Atwan and Sheikh Mohamed Bassiouni.
According to the organizer, Hamo Bika expressed his satisfaction with the final result after seeing the completed preparations. El-Helily quoted the singer as telling him, "You honored me."
Photos and videos from the funeral generated mixed reactions across social media platforms. Some users praised the organization and the effort made to honor Hamo Bika's father. Others questioned the scale of the arrangements and whether such a lavish setup was appropriate for a funeral.
Despite the differing opinions, the funeral succeeded in drawing widespread attention and remained one of the most discussed entertainment stories in Egypt recently.
