Detailed Information about Muharram Festival & Its Importance

Muharram is a new year for the entire Shias Muslims of the world. It is a festival celebrated by Shias Muslims community. The festival is celebrated in different regions of India like West Bengal, Bihar, Lucknow, Karachi, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, kerala and Assam. Apart from India other countries like Pakistan, kazakisthan, Uzbekistan and more countries celebrate the festival with joy and charm. According to some people and early given description it is also to be known that Muharram is not a celebration infact, they are mourning for the Muslims they died in the battle of Karblaa. The word Muharram is derived from the word "Haram" which means forbidden. It is the day when the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, Hussein was violently killed in the battle of Karbala in the year 680 CE/61 AH. Karbala is a city in Iraq. All the Shia Muslims celebrate Muharram as a remembrance to Ashura, which means "Tenth" in Arabic. During the month of Muharram Hazrat Hussein and his family members along with his friends were bordered by the sepoys of Yazid, the conqueror of that time. After a long battle with the Yazid, Hussein and his army were defeated and were tortured and killed by the Yazid's army. The event is well known for its historical significance and mourning for the death of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The tragedy took place on the tenth day of Muharram all the Shia Muslims considered the day as a day of sorrow. The particular day has been noticed to be the exact date of death of Hussein which is known as the occasion called Muharram.

The celebration continuous for ten days and the entire Muslims participating on this event are fully dressed up in black khan dress and small white cap. The black dress is an offered as a color of sadness. In India on this occasion the Muslim people displays a certain play with the sticks. They are fully devoted to the play and the one who drops down the stick is to be overcome by another man again with the same play. The event is continued up to two weeks and eight days and during this event they remain far from all the joys and pray for the brother's violent death.

During this event they took out a long procession on the streets displaying the banners and also perform the bamboo stick play. The plays and dances are performed to show the early episodes of the Karbala war. Muharram is a scared month for all the Muslims. On this occasion they make a visit to the mosque and pray for their early sacrifices. Some of the devoters even take fast during this event and join the plays. The early stories of the Karbala war are really interesting. The ninth and the tenth day of the Muharram are to be known as the important day among other days of the month. Most of the people take fast on these days as it was recommended by Prophet Muhammad. Hence, Muharram is festival celebrated to remember the violent death of Imam Hussein. Speeches are been delivered by the elders to youngsters on these days giving a brief description about the occasion and praise them to remember the sacrifice of truth and justice.