Ashoora celebrated with traditional solemnity across J&K
Kaba se uthi sada, aao chalen Karbala, sipah-e-Mehdi

AHMED ALI FAYYAZ

JAMMU, Dec 28: Ashoora, the 10th Moharram anniversary of the martyrs of Karbala, was celebrated in Jammu with traditional solemnity as thousands of the mourners participated in the Zuljanah procession which culminated peacefully into Majlis-e-Sham-e-Garibaan at Karbala Complex near Wazarat Road late this evening.

In keeping with the tradition, mourners gathered at Imambargah New Plot in the forenoon, after nightlong Majlis, and walked all the way to Pir Mitha. Immediately after the Zuhar prayers ended, Zuljanah and Alam procession was taken out from Imambara Pir Mitha. Anjuman-e-Imamiya Jammu, Anjuman-e-Hydariya New Plot and Shia Federation had made elaborate arrangements for smooth passage of the procession.

As the groups of mourners recited Nowha and Marthiya and performed Matam with self-flagellation and striking sharp-edged metallic instruments on their own bodies to spill blood on the streets, the procession passed through Lakhdata Bazar, Rajinder Bazar (Talab Khatikaan), Shaheedi Chowk, Wazarat Road and finally culminated into Majlis-e-Sham-e-Garibaan at Karbala Complex, near Wazarat Road.

Spirit of communal harmony was manifest as the non-Muslims provided complete support to the procession and the mourners said in verse: “Had Imam Hussain come to India, he would not have been killed by any tyrant Yazid”. “If ever India desires to be a successful country, it should follow the principles of Imam Hussain”, read a boldly printed banner, quoting Mahatma Gandhi. Hussaini Youth Federation Ladakh had its presence in the procession.

“Kaba se uthi sada, waqt-e-zahoor aagaya, aao chalen Karbala, sipah-e-Mehdi, sipah-e-Mehdi” was the refrain of a Nowha composed and performed by a thick circle of Ladkahi students. Students Association Sofia Imamiya Noorbakhshiya Ladakh had dominated a major part of the procession. The participants included students, government employees and businessmen from Kargil and Leh, besides a large number of government employees and normal visitors from Kashmir valley. Thus the procession had fairly good representation from all the three regions of the state.

Non-Gazetted Secretariat Employees Union, Anjuman-e-Imamiya and Shia Federation besides other NGOs had organized Sabeels at several places en route to Karbala Complex, where hundreds of male and female mourners in black outfits participated in the Majlis-e-sham-e-Garibaan late in the evening. Senior National Conference leader from Kargil and Minister of Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Qamar Ali Akhoon, remained camping at Karbala Complex. Maula Gazzanfar Hussain Rizvi addressed the Majlis.

Reports of other Zuljanah processions in Jammu division came in from Poonch, Surankot, Mendhar besides Chanderkot on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

In Poonch, Zuljanah procession led by Moulana Naheem Ahmed Abdi and President Anjuman-e-Jaffria Poonch Mr. Rahat Hussain Sahib started from Takia Sharief, Sayed Pehalwan Shah and passing through City Chowk, Main Bazar of Poonch and culminated at Imam Bargah Poonch. Hundreds of mourners participated in the procession reciting and mourning prayers in praise of the martyrs of Karbla.

Similarly, thousand of mourners joined Zuljanah procession in Surankote led by prominent Shia cleric Syed Khadim Hussain Shah and other prominent Muslim scholars including Moulvi Muneer-ul-Hussan, President State Tanzeem-Al-Momineen. The procession passing through main market, culminated at Imam Bargah Surankote.

In Mendhar Tehsil, the procession of Karbala mourners was taken out from Sangla Chowk Gursai to Mendhar. Large number of mourners joined the procession which ended at the local Imambargah.

Zuljanah procession was also carried out in Mandi Tehsil which started from Imamia Park passing through the market and ended at local Imambargah Mandi. Prominent Shia leader Mr. Fida Hussain and other senior citizens led the procession.

District Administration had made elaborate arrangements of security and medicare by providing teams of doctors and First Aid support along with ambulances deployed along route to Zuljanah processions and Shia-dominated localities.

END