History:

Muharram festival is celebrated to honor the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet. The festival begins on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and lasts for 10 days. It is said that During this month, while on a journey, Hazrat Imam Hussain, his family members and a number of his followers were surrounded by the forces of Yazid, the Muslim ruler of the time. During the siege, they were deprived of food and water and many of them were put to death. The incident happened at a place called Karbala in Iraq in 61st year after Hijra. This dispute was result of a disagreement among Muslims on the question of succession after the demise of Hazrat Ali, the fourth caliph.

Since that day, Muharram is observed to commemorate Imam Hussain. In some parts of the world, meetings are held in honor of the martyrs, where speeches are given as a tribute. However, the Shia sect of Muslims follows a different tradition. They wear black through the duration of the festival as it is regarded as a color of mourning. During the first nine days, Majalis (assemblies) are organized in the morning, where people talk about the incident that took place at Karbala.

On the 10th day of Muharram, large processions with people holding banners and carrying paper and bamboo replicas of the tomb of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his people are taken out in the streets. Some of the Muslims also hit themselves with a sharp metal tied to chain to express their pain and sorrow. The Moharram processions also are taken out on the streets of New Delhi, the capital India. At times, a magnificently adorned white horse is also included in the procession, as a symbol of the empty mount of Hazrat Imam Hussain after his martyrdom. Just as other places, the members of the Shia community set up drinking posts to serve water and juices, free of charge, to everyone in Delhi as well.

Celebrated on:

The festival begins on the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar and lasts for 10 days.

Celebrations of the festival:

It is celebrated with great fervour by the Muslims especially the Shia community. Tazias, glittering replicas of the Martyr's tomb, are carried in procession through the streets. The Tazias of Lucknow and Hyderabad are noted for their splendour. In places like Lucknow, Delhi, Agra and Jaipur, grand scale processions are held. People beat their chest in mourning to the tune of beating drums and chants 'Ya Hussain'. Devotees beat themselves and inflict wounds on their own bodies.

Some sects of Muslims hold meetings where speeches are made on the happenings of Karbala and on the lives of martyrs. The Shias, however, observe this festival in a different fashion. As Muharram, the first month of the Muslim year, approaches, they put on black clothes, as black is regarded as a colour of mourning. Majalis (assemblies) are held every day during the first nine days where Shia orators relate the incident of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his party in a great detail. On the 10th day of Muharram, large processions are formed and the devoted followers parade the streets holding banners and carrying models of the mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his people, who fell at Karbala. They show their grief and sorrow by inflicting wounds on their own bodies with sharp metal tied to chain with which they scourge themselves.