MUHARRAM – THE PIOUS MONTH
It was sunny summer noon of August month in 2021 with partially eased down Covid protocols. The carefree college-going teenagers in downtown Srinagar come across a disciplined and uniformly dressed peaceful gathering of thousands of men chanting “Why not we keep the channels of water everywhere, remember the convoy of Abid-E-Muztar”. The crowd was a new thing for these young lads as the three-decade-long ban on Muharram processions in the city center was lifted by the government very recently. The bright spark amongst the youngsters enlightened his peers about this fact and also informed them all, that it was the mourning procession of the pious Muharram month.
Kashmir Valley with abundant multifarious cultural diversity is undoubtedly heaven on earth wherein the palpable natural and cultural richness are unparallel. Every household here welcomes even the unannounced guests and provides food and shelter. Mosques are simple in appearance with enormous spirituality and Mullah is a common but learned man.
Muharram is the period of prayers and reflection. It’s a religious festival celebrated as the advent of the Islamic new year around the globe. A highly significant event for the Muslim culture, Muharram also serves as a door to a new beginning and new opportunities in the coming year. It is the first month of the Islamic calendar, which Muslims believe to be the blessed month like Ramzan. As stated in the virtues of Muharram in Hadith – “The best of fasts besides the month of Ramadhan is the fasting of Allah’s month of Muharram”.
The month of Muharram is extremely holy for the Muslim community and during this festival, Muslims also pray for forgiveness of sins and most importantly commemorate Hussein Ibn Ali and his family on this day of sorrow. People respect their sacrifices and pray in abundance as well as refrain from all joyous events. Considered to be one of the most important months, wherein the followers of Allah firmly adhere to the serenity of the very old Islamic saying “Sin in this month is more serious and good deeds bring great rewards”.
This month is forbidden for warfare and the godly days are gainfully utilised by Allah’s followers to reenergise humanity by spreading the message of love, peace, brotherhood, and togetherness. Muharram is celebrated with enormous festive gusto and great religious fervor, the festival of remembering the sacrifices through mourning is held for about one month. The major attraction is the ‘Majlis’, the volunteer assemblies/processions organised at all the planned and predecided cities/locations, towns, highways/roads, and market places. The assemblies are organised for the first nine days during the Muharram month.
In the assemblies, the events, incidents, and lost lives of soldiers during the ‘Battle of Karbala’ are remembered. Shias even cause themselves pain to mourn for the martyrdom of Imam and his soldiers. They express their sorrow in Muharram’s processions by thumping their chest and wounding themselves. The people of Muslim communities in many parts of the world also set up langars where water and juices are served free to all. It was also in this same month that Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Madina.
Muharram also marks the month of remembrance and anniversary of the Battle of Karbala, where Islamic Prophet Muhammad’s Imam Hussain Ibn Ali was killed. The Muharram month is associated with many stories in Islam. Muslims begin mourning from the first night of Muharram and continue for ten nights, climaxing on the 10th of Muharram, known as the Day of ‘Ashura’. Most Muslims fast on this day, which is considered to be the best fast after Ramzan fast. Ashura, which means the “Tenth” in Arabic, refers to the tenth day of Muharram. Ashura or the tenth of Muharram commemorates the anniversary of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad who died at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
The last few days up until and including the Day of Ashura are the most important because these were the days in which Hussain and his family and followers (including women, children, and elderly people) were deprived of water from the seventh day onwards and on the tenth day, Hussein and his 72 followers were killed by the army of Yazid-I at the Battle of Karbala.
Muharram celebrations for the year 2021 in the Kashmir Valley witnessed healthy processions, with thousands of volunteers. All the places of religious significance were appropriately decorated on this day. The havoc created by Covid-19 had rendered invocation of protocols for the safety of the general public. Having celebrated Eid indoors, having offered more than 100 Friday prayers in living rooms, and Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra getting canceled, the awaam of the Valley was a little apprehensive about Muharram too.
Having seen these testing times, with Allah’s grace, with a steady reduction in the number of Covid cases and lifting of the three-decade-old ban on the Muharram processions in Srinagar, Muharram 2021 was altogether a new experience for the entire Valley. All the more a large number of matured lot stepping forward to getting themselves vaccinated before the Muharram has added a feather to the cap.
