Hindus join Muharram processions in Orissa

[Skeptic]

Hindus join Muharram processions in Orissa

Bhubaneswar, Dec 28 (IANS) Demonstrating communal harmony, hundreds of Hindus Monday joined Muslims’ Muharram processions in Orissa as part of their years-long tradition.
The Hindus joined the processions at several places to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed.

Dozens of Muslim youth slashed their bodies with sharp weapons at Jatani town in the district of Khordha, some 20 km from here, while some walked on burning coals and many inserted iron pins in their tongue, cheeks, chest and back.

In the western town of Sambalpur, the tazia (replica of the Imam Hussain’s shrine) was carried out by a Hindu family.

The family of Lal Mohan Padhihary has been taking out the procession for more than three centuries as their ancestors undertook a pilgrimage to holy Mecca and Medina and got their wish fulfilled.

“We have been doing it as part of our tradition which is hundreds of years old,” Padhihary said.

“At least 36 processions were taken out in coastal Bhadrak town, some 142 km from here.

“More than 15,000 people including hundreds of Hindus participated in the peaceful procession,” Haji Muhammad Abdul Bari, president of the Chauda Mahala Muslim Jamat, told IANS.

Only 2.1 percent of the state’s total population of 36,706,920 are Muslims. Muslims and Hindu families are known to participate in each other’s religious functions in the state.

 

[Skeptic]

Hindus observe Muharram in Siwan

PATNA — In a rare show of communal harmony, dozens of Hindu families in a Bihar village observed Muharram Monday to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and took out a ‘tazia’ (replica of Hussain’s shrine) in a procession.

“We observed Muharram and also took out a tazia procession along with the Muslims,” Lalan Choudhary, a resident of Thepha village in Siwan district, where the procession took place, said.

“It is an old tradition in our village that Hindu families observe Muharram,” he said.

His brother Ramayan Choudhary said that five tazias were built in the village for Muharram.

“Four tazias were built by the Muslims and one by the Hindus to prove that we also mourn martyrdom of Imam Hussain,” he said.

Cleric of the village mosque, Shamshul Haque, said: “Hindus observing Muharram sends a message of peace, harmony and brotherhood to others.” In this village, Muslims and Hindu families participate in each other’s religious functions, he said.

- AGENCIES

 

[Skeptic]

Muslims turn blood donors on Muharram in Lucknow

Muslims turned blood donors in a village near here Monday to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed.

Muslim residents of Amrai village in Chinhat area of Lucknow lined up at a daylong blood donation camp and gave blood on Muharram that also heralds the Islamic calendar new year.

The villagers organised the blood donation camp along with health officials.

"We decided to donate blood on Muharram in remembrance of Imam Hussain who devoted his life to humanity. In a way, our blood donation camp is also related to humanity," said Tanveer Hussain, one of the organising members of the blood donation camp.

"Following the principles of our Imam, we also want to contribute to mankind. We believe our small initiative will definitely benefit the public. Both men and women of different age groups are coming forward to donate blood that can provide a new life to several people," he added.

Meanwhile, in this capital, a large number of Muslims, wearing black clothes, took out mourning processions, beating their chests and backs with chains, to observe Yaum-e-Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram which is the first month of the Islamic calendar.

Considered a day of bereavement, many Muslims observe fast, give charity and pray in remembrance of Hussain who was martyred this day around 1,400 years ago at Karbala in Iraq.

It was during the month of Muharram in 680 AD that soldiers of the ruling caliph Yazid surrounded Hussain, his family and some followers at Karbala. In the days that followed, they were denied food and water and many of them were killed in the clash that lasted till the 10th day of the month.

A heavy security blanket was thrown over parts of the old city to ensure peaceful Muharram processions. Close circuit television cameras have been installed at several places to capture every happening on and around the procession route.

Elaborate traffic restrictions have been announced for almost all the main roads of the old city area.

Really appreciate the gesture and innovation from people.

Proud to be a lucknowite.

 

[jha]

whats the big news... i am a hindu (brahmin to be precise ) and was taking part in muharram every year regularly till 5 yrs back...this trend continues almost everywhere...
jha