Muharram: Overview, history, observance and date of celebration

Muharram defines the beginning of the Islamic new year and celebrated as a public holiday in India along with some other countries. It is on Thursday, 14th of November, 2013. Shia Muslims fast on the tenth day and offer namaz (prayer). Prayers and meetings are also held in mosques, homes and other religious gatherings.

Eid and Muharram are the two prime festivals of the Muslims but each of these festivals has its own characteristics and identity. Though the celebration of Eid observes happiness but the celebration of Muharram relates to sorrow and mourning. According to Islam, Muslims celebrate Muharram to commemorate the sacrifice of their greats.

The Muslims celebrate this festival from the first day to the tenth day of the first month of the Muharram calender year. They observe the saddest event of the Islamic History during the span of these ten days. This event relates with the martyr and sacrifice of the Hazrat Imam Hussain. He was the grandson of the founder of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad, and the son of the fourth Khalifa, Hazrat Ali. The common people accept his as the Khalifa after his father. However, at one corner of the Arab, Yazid had announced himself as the Khalifa. Once, Hazrat Hussain got the news from the Khufa that they would accept him as the Khalifa if he goes there. After travelling a huge distance when he got there he found himself surrounded by the followers of Yazid. The people who invited him to Khufa became disloyal and betrayed him. He had only 30 to 40 people with him including the women and children. The governor of Yazid stopped the small caravan of Hazrat Imam Hussein from proceeding. With no other options available, he had to put tents to live in the midst of the desert.

The supporters of Yazid punished the followers of Hazrat Imam Hussain in several ways. They were neither given food nor water and had to starve. Finally, Hazrat Hussein martyred in the battle of Karbala.

The follower of the Islam mourns from the first day to the tenth day of Muharram. They dress up and mourn for the saddest event in Islamic history. Maglis is an important event on the occasion whereby the event of the Kharbala is recited in poetic form. The Muslims listen and mourn in their heart remembering the sad event.

People move out of their houses with duldul (horse), pancham (flag), dhal (Shield) and tajiya. On the 10th day they fast and cry out, “Ya Hussein”. Besides, they move out in procession from the seventh to the tenth day. They display how the Imam fought bravely in the Karbela war.

Hazrat Hussain fought bravely in the war with a handful of followers. He had no provisions for food and water, but he fought and never accepted Yazid as the Caliph. This festival reminds us that one's ideology, and honor is greater than one's life. The festival teaches that no matter what people should always follow that is right. In other words, Muharram is a revolt against injustice and cruelty.