Thursday



The festival commemorates the martyrdom of the
prophet Mohammed's grandson- Hazrat Imam Hussein. It is celebrated with
great fervour by the Muslims especially the Shia community. Tazias,
glittering replicas of the Martyr's tomb, are carried in procession
through the streets. The Tazias of Lucknow and Hyderabad are noted for
their splendour. In places like Lucknow, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, grand
scale processions are held. People beat their chest in mourning to the
tune of beating drums and chants 'Ya Hussain'. Devotees beat themselves
and inflict wounds on their own bodies.

This festival starts
at the 1st day of Muharram and lasts for 10 days until 10th of
Muharram. Muharram is the first month of Islamic calendar.

During this
month, while on a journey, Hazrat Imam Hussain, his family members and
a number of his followers were surrounded by the forces of Yazid, the
Muslim ruler of the time. During the siege, they were deprived of food
and water and many of them were put to death. The incident happened at
a place called Karbala in Iraq in 61st year after Hijra. This dispute
was result of a disagreement among Muslims on the question of
succession after the demise of Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph.



Some sects of Muslims hold meetings where speeches are made on the
happenings of Karbala and on the lives of martyrs. The Shias, however,
observe this festival in a different fashion. As Muharram, the first
month of the Muslim year, approaches, they put on black clothes, as
black is regarded as a colour of mourning. Majalis (assemblies) are
held every day during the first nine days where Shia orators relate the
incident of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his party in a
great detail. On the 10th day of Muharram, large processions are formed
and the devoted followers parade the streets holding banners and
carrying models of the mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his people,
who fell at Karbala. They show their grief and sorrow by inflicting
wounds on their own bodies with sharp metal tied to chain with which
they scourge themselves. This is done in order to depict the sufferings
of the martyrs. It is a sad occasion and everyone in the procession
chants "Ya Hussain", with loud wails of lamentation. Generally a white
horse beautifully decorated for the occasion, is also included in the
procession, to mark the empty mount of Hazrat Imam Husain after his
martyrdom.

During these first ten days of Muharram, drinking
posts are also set up temporarily by the Shia community where water and
juices are served to all, free of charge.

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Darbar.e.Muqaddas

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