[India] Oct 01 (ANI): Muslims on Sunday observed Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, across India with solemness.
Mu?arram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, reaches a crescendo on 10th Muharram, the day when Imam Hussain Ibn Ali, grandson of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him), and his followers were martyred in 61 Hijri or 680 CE at Karbala, in present-day Iraq.
The tenth day of Muharram is the Day of Ashura, which to Shia Muslims is part of the Mourning of Muharram. Sunni Muslims fast during this day.
Mourning processions, meetings, fasting and feeding the poor mark the 10th day of Muharram.
Processions carrying tazias and black flags with people beating their chests in ceremonial mourning were taken out across India.
Amid cries of "Ya Hussain" and recitation of marsiyas (elegies) and noha-khwani (poems expressing sorrow), mourners used knives, blade-encrusted chains and other sharp-edged weapons to flagellate themselves to show solidarity with the sufferings of the martyrs.
Hyderabad's Shia community took out Muharram procession from Bibi Ka Alawe, the holy platform for Hyderabadi Shias. The procession started from Bibi ka Alawe to reach Chanderghat.
A caparisoned elephant carried the historical Bibi-ka-Alam during the Muharram procession near Charminar.
The procession passed through parts of the old city, with thousands of people, irrespective of religion and caste, standing along the roads to pay their respects.
With about 200,000 Shias, Hyderabad is home to the second-largest Shia community in India, after Lucknow.
West Bengal on Sunday peacefully observed Muharram amid the apprehensions and concerns for any untoward event.
Thousands of Muslims participated in processions on Sunday braving the rains on the occasion of Muharram.
The areas with considerable Muslim population like Park Circus, Rajabazar, Kolkata port area including adjoining Kidderpore, Iqbalpur, Mominpur and Metiabruz witnessed huge Muharram processions.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee received flak from opposition, especially the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, for putting restrictions on the immersion of Durga idols due to Muharram.
She was accused of appeasing Muslims.
The West Bengal government had imposed restrictions on Durga idol immersion on Vijaydashami on September 30 after 10 pm and October 1, which is the 10th day of the holy month of Muharram, to avert a possible clash between the two communities.
The Calcutta High Court had stayed the order following protests by the BJP leaders. The court had directed the police to ensure that Muharram processions and Durga idol immersion procession shouldn't overlap.
After the court's order, it was made mandatory for the Puja committees to take permission from police for idol immersion. However, few committees came forward to take permission and ended chances of clashes.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu tweeted, "Muharram commemorates the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammed's Grandson - Hussein Ibn-e-Ali, martyred in the Battle of Karbala on tenth day."
In his next tweet, the Vice President said, "Muharram marks justice against injustice and truth stood up against falsehood. Muslims, mainly Shias, spend the day in mourning." (ANI)
