Mourning and solemnity marked the “Youm-e-Ashoora”, the 10th day of Muharram, in the city on Sunday. Special public meetings and prayers apart, food-feeding camps for people were organised to mark the occasion.
The highlight of the day was the “Bibi-ka-Alam” taken out on a caparisoned elephant in a procession in the old city. It was preceded by a mounted police party and camels that carried small Alams and relics.
Members of the Shia community marched along the procession flagellating themselves with sharp weapons to the cries of ‘Ya Husain’ to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of the Prophet, in the battle of Karbala in Iraq centuries ago, even as women who lined up on the procession route beat their chest as the procession passed through the road.
Holy relic
The Bibi-ka-Alam, which is believed to contain a holy relic, was taken out in a procession from Dabeerpura around 1 p.m. and it ended at Masjid-e-Ilahi at Chaderghat in the evening.
800 “Alams”
People from different communities lined up along the procession route and offered ‘dhattis’ to the Alam.
About 800 “Alams” from different parts of the city were taken out and merged into the main procession.
s A camel carrying the “Nishan-e-Mubarak” preceded the Bibi-ka-Alam.
The police made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the procession. South Zone DCP, Akun Sabharwal, rode a horse to keep vigil.
Dhattis offered
Former Minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, Parliament member Anjan Kumar Yadav, Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain, A.P. Shia Youth Conference president Syed Hamed Hussain Jaffery were among those who offered ‘dhattis’ to the alam.
Members of the Nizam family too offered ‘dhattis’ at Azakhan-e-Zehra and Purani Haveli.
