With black taking over the city, people get ready to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain who gave away his life on 10th of Muharram 1372 lunar yearS ago in a battle with then ruler Yazeed. Ashura, which falls on December 6 this year, marks the day when the forces of the second Umayyad caliph martyred the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Hussain Ibn-e-Ali and 72 of his companions in Karbala in the year 61AH or 680AD. Regarded as a sorrowful day by all sects of Islam, Ashura is observed as a day of mourning with special processions and congregations being taken out by the followers of Shiite school of thought while Sunni keep optional fast on the day.
Mourners wear black outfits on Tasua and Ashura (9th and 10th of Muharram) and hold special ceremonies in line with their local traditions in different cities. In provincial metropolis, a city with not a majority but reasonable population of Shias, Muharram observances are carried out fervently every year and strict security is employed during first ten days of Muharram with even more strict arrangements on Youm –e-Ashur. The mourning practices, though are carried out in all the ten days of Muharram, reach their peak on 9th Muharram and wrap up on 10th as main procession of Zuljinnah concludes at its destination. On Monday, congregations were held in almost each locality of the provincial capital. A larger procession was led from Chohan Road Islampura while the processions were taken out from Imamia Colony, Nicholson Road and Sadr also. The main procession of Lahore was brought out from Nisar Haveli late evening which would finally conclude at Karbala Gamay Shah today (Tuesday).
Some of the bigger events of mourning are arranged in different parts of the city including Shadman, Wahdat Road, Sadr, Pando Street, Dharmpura, Thokar Niaz Baig and Shahdra. However, major activities remain centred in the walled city of Lahore and come out on Ashura day. In the surroundings of Mochi gate only more than 70 Imam Bargahs are located. The smaller processions from all these Imam Bargahs continue to join the main one throughout the night between 9th and 10th of Muharram. For the whole night, requiems are held and people hurt themselves with swords and knife chains and walk on fire while food and drinks are freely distributed among all to remember the three -day-long hunger and thirst of Hussain(AS).
For security and maintaining law and order during Youm-e-Ashur, pillion riding was banned in the city for two days. However, the ban was not seen being observed by people in many parts of the city owing to absence of traffic wardens and policemen. The processions were aerially monitored by law enforcement agencies through helicopters given to police by the army. Instead of barbed wires, containers were placed to secure the route of procession while the numbers of police officers were also doubled. For diversion of traffic and route of processions, 3 SPs, 9 DSPs, 27 Inspectors and 120 lady wardens are deputed on Youm-e-Ashur. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Ahmad Mobin also visited the central route of Zuljinnah and inspected the diversion points on Monday. CTO directed circle officers not to allow anyone to park vehicle in 200 yards of the procession. He also ordered the traffic wardens deputed on the route to have vigilant eyes on suspicious persons.
‘And every Karbala is the resurrection of Islam
