A full moon lit the sky, it was 5.15 p.m., and traveling up Old Padra Road in a richshaw, gave a quick opportunity to view the sacred Muslim Procession of the Tazias, a day of mourning for Shia Muslims, who commemorate this day with a procession of model temples, carried on the back of a variety of vehicles - this was Muharram, the first month of the Muslim year. These small reproductions of the domed tomb of the grandson of Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Kabala in Iraq (680 AD), vary in size from a meter to a few meters high, colourfully decorated in bright colours and intricate detail. There was no music, common in Hindu processions, but a drum on wheels was beaten and preceded the procession. People sat on the pavements, enjoying the cooler evening air, admiring the exquisite display of floats, women wearing head scarves, men with immaculate white skull caps.
Despite the sense of occasion, this is a day of mourning for Shia Muslims, who commemorate the death of Husayn Ibn Ali, who they believe should have been Muhammad's rightful successor.
Despite the sense of occasion, this is a day of mourning for Shia Muslims, who commemorate the death of Husayn Ibn Ali, who they believe should have been Muhammad's rightful successor.
No comments:
Post a Comment