Mourning, fasting mark 'Yaum-e-Ashura'

Hyderabad: Hundreds of Shia Muslims took part in the ‘Bibi ka alam’, the traditional mourning procession in the Old City on Saturday, marking ‘Yaum-e-Ashura’, the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and others in the battle of Karbala.

Sunni Muslims observed the day by fasting and holding meetings to remember the sacrifices of Imam Hussain and his followers who were martyred in 680 CE at Karbala, in present day Iraq.

Feeding poor and distribution of water and juice also marked the 10th day of Muharram, the first holy month of Islamic calendar.

Hundreds of Shia mourners flagellated themselves with sharp-edged objects. Reciting poems of sorrow, the barefoot youths, using knives,



blade-encrusted chains and other sharp-edged weapons, inflicted injuries on themselves to show solidarity with the sufferings of the martyrs. Others were seen weeping and beating their chests.

The massive procession began from ‘Bibi Ka alawa’, with the ‘alam’ insignia of the martyrs kept on an elephant. After covering a distance of seven kilometres, the procession culminated after the sunset at Chaderghat on the banks of Musi River. Water and 'Sherbat' were distributed to people at various places in the Old City.

The ‘alam’ was installed over 430 years ago during the Qutub Shahi period. The ‘alam’ also contains six diamonds and other jewellery donated by Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh and last Nizam.