Bibi Ka Alam procession passes off peacefully

Muslims across Telangana observed the ‘Youm-e Ashoora’ that falls on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar.

Popularly referred as ‘Muharram’, the day commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad in Karbala battle centuries ago.

To mark the day, special religious meetings were organised across city. Food camps were held at various places while youngsters were seen distributing ‘sherbet’ among the people by setting up temporary kiosks. Groups of youth also visited hospitals and old age homes to distribute cooked food and fruits to the inmates.

In old city of Hyderabad, the Bibi ka Alam (standard) was taken out in a procession from the Bibi ka Alawa at Dabeerpura. The procession started at 1 pm and passed through Shaik Faiz Kaman, Yakutpura road, Etebar Chowk, Alijah Kotla, Charminar, Gulzar Houz, Panjeshah, Mandi Mir Alam, Darulshifa before culminating at Masjid e-Ilahi at



Chaderghat.

An elephant ‘Madhuri’ from Kolhapur was brought to the city to carry the Bibi ka Alam as a tradition. The TS Wakf Board had arranged the elephant on a representation of the HEH The Nizam Trust and other Shia organisations.

Members of the Shia community belonging to different groups of mourners participated in the procession performing the customary ‘matam’. Several people have lined up across the procession route to have a glimpse of the activity. En route, several eminent personalities and government officials offered ‘dhatti’ to the Bibi ka Alam at different points.

Several other small processions joined in the main procession from across the city. The police made elaborate arrangements for the peaceful passing of the procession.

Last year, the procession was rescheduled and the elephant was not brought and the standard was instead carried in a DCM vehicle due to the Covid pandemic.