Muharram is a popular Muslim festival. There is more a pensive than a rejoicing mood behind the festival, because there is a sad history behind it.
The history, in short, is that Prophet Hazrat Muhammed had two grandsons called Hassan and Hussain. Hassan became the Caliph who was killed by Yezid. Hussain fled to Mecca, where he was also killed by Yezid’s men in the battle-field of Karbala. The war continued for ten days. So the Muslims observe the first ten days of the month of Muharram as a period of mourning in memory of Hassan and Hussain. The festival is held in honour of the said two dead heroes.
Every year the young Muslims take out large processions with Tazias in the streets in order to demonstrate a mock fight. They carry swords, lances and sticks with the accompaniment of war drums. They get themselves dressed in black to look like soldiers. The crowds are sometimes divided into groups who engage themselves in mock war (as it took place in Karbala). After the war, they lament for the dead and beat their breasts in sorrow, with the cries of “Hassan! Hussain!”, while a rider less horse follows them. The horse represents Hussain’s steed.
On this day, the Muslims offer alms to the poor and feed the hungry. On the following day, they throw the Tazias, which represent the tombs over Hussdin’s grave into the water.