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| Bibi ka Alam procession in Hyderabad |
The photograph of Shia Muslims performing 'Maatam' below is from Amritsar, once a City with half of its residents being Muslims.
But after partition, almost entire Muslim population of Amritsar moved out. Over the last few decades, the urban areas in Punjab have seen a growth of Muslim population.
Most of the migrant workers from Bihar, UP and other parts of India are now settled in cities like Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.
As a result, there is a revival of Islamic observances in Indian Punjab. Till recently, only Maler Kotla pocket in Sangrur district had a concentration of Muslims.
It is in this context that maatam by Anjuman Yadgar-e-Husaini at the Imambada in Amritsar holds special significance.
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| Fireworks in Jamshedpur |
There is a huge crowd of mourners from both Shia and Sunni sects who attend this observance. Hyderabad is a centre of Muslim culture in South India.
Photos of fireworks during Muharram are from Jamshedpur in Jharkhand province. The photograph of Tazia is from Ahmedabad, which is the capital of Gujarat state.
'Tazia-daari' is an age-old custom in entire Indian sub-continent.
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| Ya Husain |
Muharram is a period of mourning and it is observed, NOT CELEBRATED. In India, Hindus and other religious communities also take part in the rites and rituals.
Imam Husain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, had achieved martyrdom at the battle of Karbala, while fighting against the army of the evil Yezid, in seventh century in present day Iraq.
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| Tazia in Ahmedabad |
Sunnis on the other hand take out tazias. In Indian sub-continent, the uniqueness lies in the fact that Hindus also take out tazias [ie the replica of Imam's tomb].
They also organise distribution of the sherbet or tabarruk [holy food]. Read the story about such tradition and 'Hindu Imambaras' in DNA.
Here is the LINK
14 comments:
These practices in India are not very healthy ones. People beat themselves with sticks and whips; cut themselves with blades; and get drunk. I believe all of these are un-Islamic practices.
Dear Manas bhai,
The purpose of this blog is towards all-inclusiveness and not judging what is wrong and right.
I feel compelled to write and present my views but this not a blog for deliberation and discussion on the internecine differences of sects with in Islam. There is no limit to Barelvis, Deobandis, Shia, Sunni and their internecine rivalries and claims of what is Islamic and what is un-Islamic.
I write in bits and pieces at various places. Will you take a look at my comment at the very bottom of the list of comments at Pakistaniat.com on the post regarding Ashura: http://pakistaniat.com/2007/01/30/pakistan-karballa-karbala-moharram-muharram-ashura/#comments
Allah knows best.
who gets drunk
thanx for doing the peice on muharram... aslo just curious to know why the fireworks take place as it signifies joy? tc
Here playing with fire is commemorating the hardships and preparing to fight the evil...
Dear Manas,
This is a muslim practice who do all just to remember sacrifice of imam husain (a.s) (grand son of holy prophet(s.a.w)....
But check the source of your information because that is not correct..No muslim drink in this world...
oh so bad.... its really cruel
thanks for the post.
to manas,
are you an authority on islam, who are you to decide what is islamic and un-islamic, if shias beat themselves with sticks etc, cut themselves with knifes, blades, etc. how does it bother you.
were you invited to do the same?
for your information shias do this out of their love for Imam Hussain the grandson of prophet mohammad and no one forces them to do this, and even after beating and cutting themselves they walk back on their own feet and not in an ambulance such is the miracle of imam hussain that his followers do not feel the pain.
Purely unislamic. O Allah! guide these people.
"Pak hai jo khoon tere maatam mein bahega.
Zaalim kabhi mazloom ka maatam na karega".
Allahumma Salle Ala Muhammadin wa aale Muhammad
i think this blog is run by a sangparivar activist or an anti muslim minded person...viewvers and readers pls aware about the articles..
Once again- we are into HOLIER than THOU and right and wrongs. This is eternal discussion and can go on for centuries.
Religion is not based on LOGIC and REASONING and no one can/ should claim that his GOD is better or BIGGER than the others.
This is of no use- coming to the point is MUHARRAM. For me who is a non-muslim...this is a religous ritual and like many other rituals in many other religions, it should be respcted and there should be no derogatory comment on it.
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