Muharram in India: Shia, Sunni Muslims mourn Imam Husain's martyrdom [Photos- Part II]

Bibi ka Alam procession in Hyderabad

Muharram is observed with traditional solemnity across India. 

In hundreds of cities and thousands of towns, the processions are taken out on Yaum-e-Ashurah. 

Here are more photographs on the occasion of Muharram, which is observed to commemorate the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husain and his companions.

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.

Fireworks in Jamshedpur

The other photographs include that of the famous 'Bibi ka Alam' in Hyderabad Deccan. The procession is taken out annually on Yaum-e-Ashura.

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.

Ya Husain

An eight-year-old Hindu boy, Manish Kumar, walks on red hot embers in Lucknow. Many Hindu families perform Azadari.

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.

Tazia in Ahmedabad

Ever since, the martyrdom is being commemorated across the world. Shias whiplash themselves to express their sentiments.

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

Moharram in India: Unique rituals, boys turn into 'Tigers' to mourn Imam Husain's martyrdom [Part--I]

Ya Husain: Young boys dressed as tigers observing Muharram

The 'Sher' [young boys dressed as Tigers] are an integral part of Muharram in Central India and Vidarbha region.

Here is a photograph of the Tiger boys in Indore, a city in Madhya Pradesh.

Mind you, they are all Sunnis. Not the Shias, who are supposed to be more fervent in observing the Muharram rituals.


Though a section among Sunnis these days are quite prompt in terming them as 'bidah' [innovation in religion or wrong practices], this aspect of Muharram has always fascinated people from various cross-sections of society.

Many Hindus consider it auspicious to see the Tazia and take their children along with the procession. The children are made to pass under the Tazia. It is another matter that many mainstream Muslims raise eyebrows at the mention of these practices.

While the Shias stick to Azadari and carry alams, the Sunnis [mostly poor ones] and non-Muslims, mostly Hindus, construct tazias that are replica of Imam's Rauza. The tragic events of the battle of Karbala are recounted during the processions that are taken out on the tenth of Islamic month of Muharram ie Yaum-e-Ashura.

Read the second part of this series: Muharram in India. At this LINK

For my post on Muharram last year:Govt's Tazia, Eunuchs and other aspects Click

Eminent Hindi litterateur Kamleshwar passes away

کملیشور 

One after the other so many literary giants have passed away. Just a month back I had met him. It was my first meeting with Kamleshwar. He was so warm and cordial.

Today he also departed. You go to wikipedia, you'll find just 3 lines about him. Yes, that's what we have reduced everybody to. Whoever doesn't write in English is a nobody in this nation.

People like Rajkamal Jha [just an example, I ain't have any problem with Jha] write an ordinary novel and earn millions [again not that important] but great writers of other regional languages hardly get the respect, which they deserve.

For the so-called national English dailies, Kamleshwar is barely a single column news even in his demise. We may produce lots of Ambanis and Indira Nooyis in future but we are surely going to become a nation of pygmies, who we'd look up to!...sab baune hi bachenge
Jitne qaddaavar the unke sar to ghutnoN me.n gaye

Ab tamaasha yeh hai baune aasmaaN chhuune lage
Kamleshwar was born in Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh on January 6, 1931. After graduation from Allahabad in 1954, he started writing scripts for TV. He has left several collections of stories and travelogues apart from major literary works.

Apart from his association with the national television channel Doordarshan, he worked as a journalist also. He was associated with Dainik Jagran and later with Dainik Bhaskar. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award and Padma Bhushan.

Kamleshwar, a humanist person, embodied secular values. He wrote scripts for TV serials Darpan, Ek Kahani and Chandrakanta. Also, he directed many programmes. He wrote movie scripts for Hindi films like Aakash, Andhi, Mausam, Rajnigandha, Chhoti Si Baat and Mister Natwarlal.

 خدا حافظ کملیشور

Padma Awards 2007: Khushwant Singh, Neeraj, Teesta & Muslim awardees

The Padma Awards have been announced on Republic Day eve.

The highest of these three awards, Padma Vibhushan, has been given to writer-journalist Khushwant Singh and jurist Fali Nariman, both of whom fully deserve the recognition. Raja Rao and some other eminent personalities have also been conferred this award.

The second, Padam Bhushan, has been awarded to over 30 peronalities including Gopal Das Neeraj, Javed Akhtar and even Pepsi CEO Indira Nooyi (why?). Neeraj truly deserves it. Just last week when I saw the Hindi poet (he was given Padma Shri long back), I felt why out government has not given him Padma Bhushan. Thank God, good sense prevailed. My interest in Hindi poetry began after listening to Neeraj in Kavi Sammelans. And what about his 'karvaaN guzar gayaa, ghubaar dekhte rahe...'


As far as Padma Shree is concerned, scores of persons have been awarded with this honour. Teesta Setalvad has been given the award. I congratulate her. She has fought for the riot victims, had become the Voice of Voiceless in Gujarat and deserves it truly. [The highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna has not been awarded this year also. In the past, the award was given generously. ]

Muslim Padma Awardees

This year there are comparatively few Muslim names in the list. No Padma Vibhushan. Syed Haider Raza (Art), Javed Akhtar (Poetry/Films) and Hakeem Syed Mohammad Sharfuddin Qadri (Medicine) are amongst the list of personalities selected for Padma Bhushan.

Mushirul Hasan, Khalid Zaheer, Mujtaba Husain (Urdu writer, isn't he the one!), Syeda Saiyidain Hameed, Mohsin Wali, Yusuf Khan Pathan are amongst the Padma Shree awardees. May be I missed a name!

Frankly, the number of Muslim awardees is less important. I am more happy that Neeraj Sahab got Padma Bhushan and Khushwant Singh, Teesta Setalwad and contribution of so many others from various fields has been acknowledged. However, Nooyee keeps baffling me. Wouldn't a Padma Shri would have been enough!

(Above are photographs of Neeraj and Teesta Setalwad along with the caricature that appears with Khushwant Singh's column 'Malice Towards One and All')

Now a venomous article in Shiv Sena mouthpiece

An article in Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Dopahar ka Saamna' has caused lot of anger amongst Muslims in Mumbai. One, Anil Mishra, has written the article slanderous piece.

It is extremely provocative indeed. The kind of things written about Islam, especially the life of Prophet, have made lot of people upset. The langauge is also derogatory. However, the decision of the Muslims, not to take to streets is laudable.

Instead, it has been decided to use the legal option. The police have registered a case against the paper. However, it is high time that the Press Council take a strong action against such slanderous articles that are purely aimed at hurting sentiments.

Update:

In 32 police station of Mumbai, cases were registered against Saamna under sections 153 A, 295, 504 A and 84 of the Indian Penal Code. Besides, a complaint has been made to the Election Commission to cancel registration of Shiv Sena for using its paper to create wedge in society in order to consolidate votes based on religious lines. Press Council has also been sent the article published in the paper and urged to take necessary action.

The Ulema Council has decided not to meet the Chief Minister as 'taking delegations and sending memoranda' has been of use in the past. Meanwhile, Editor Prem Shukla and Anil Mishra, who wrote the article were arrested but later released on submission of personal bonds.