The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Muharram mourners remember martyrs

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Monday, Jan 21, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Muharram mourners remember martyrs

Staff Reporter

People pour in along the course to offer ‘Dhattis’ to the ‘Alam’ as the procession passes by

— Photo: Mohd.Yousuf

Religious fervour: The Bibi-ka-Alam, a historic relic mounted on a caparisoned elephant, in the old city on Sunday.

HYDERABAD: The old city was virtually engulfed in mourning on Sunday as hundreds of Shia Muslims took to the streets, observing ‘Maatam’ on the 10th day of Muharram. They were grieving the death of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammed and 72 others who lost their lives in the battle of Karbala, Iraq during the 7th century A.D.

As water tankers moved ahead clearing the roads by showering water, one could see a procession of men and children clad in black chanting the name of Imam Hussain and whipping themselves with blades, knives and wooden clubs, drawing blood even as they marched forward.

The procession started from Bibi ka Alawa and crossed by Yakutpura Darwaza, Etebar Chowk, Kotla Alijah, Charminar, Gulzar Houz, Panjeshah before returning to Etebar Chowk, Dar-ul-shifa and Chaderghat.

Hundreds of people lined up along the procession route to see the caparisoned elephant, Rajni, carrying the historic ‘Bibi-ka-Alam’. People poured in along the course to offer ‘Dhattis’ to the ‘Alam’ as the procession passed by.

Minister for Minorities Welfare, Mohd. Ali Shabbir, and Anjan Kumar Yadav, MP, were also seen offering ‘Dhattis’.

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