A HUGE mourning procession was taken out on Yaum-e-Ashura, the tenth of Islamic month of Muharram, in the State capital on Tuesday to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Husain and his companions in the battle of Karbala.
Hundreds of tazias and alams were part of the procession, which culminated at the local Karbala at the Upper Lake. The mourners beat their chests and inflicted injuries on self to express their sorrow.
The groups of mourners came from various localities and merged into a single procession at Pir Gate. Clad in black, men, women and children reciting ‘nauhas’ walked barefoot to Karbala. The mourners of Irani Dera performed ‘maatam’ with iron chains and knives.
Scholars delivered discourses and delved on the message of triumph of good over evil that emanates from the tragedy of Karbala where Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hazrat Imam Husain and his companions achieved martyrdom, over 13 centuries ago.
Nearly 15 ‘Akhadas’ demonstrated their skills of traditional Indian martial arts in the evening. Amid the sound of drumbeats, the ‘ustaads’ gave a display of their expertise on traditional forms of self-defence. The tazias were immersed in the evening. There were tazias made of ‘sarson (mustard) and cotton also. The tazias were 2.5 feet to 25 feet in height.
A strong police force was deployed on the entire route. The Muslim Tehwar Committee office-bearers including chairman Ausaf Shahmiri Khurram and Hifzur Rahman were present during the procession and thanked the administration for its cooperation.
A strong police force was deployed on the entire route. The Muslim Tehwar Committee office-bearers including chairman Ausaf Shahmiri Khurram and Hifzur Rahman were present during the procession and thanked the administration for its cooperation.