Photo: TRN A religious procession taken out at night to mark the holy festival of Muharram in Nepalgunj.
By Our Correspondent, Nepalgunj, June 27: The Muslim community in Nepalgunj is observing the festival of Muharram with a series of religious programmes.
Muharram, which marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year 1448 AH, is commemorated over a period of ten days through various religious activities.
According to Meraj Ahmad Halwai, President of the Nepal Muharram and Karbala Preservation Committee, as part of the observance, religious processions, gatherings (jalsa), and Fatiha prayers have been held every evening for the past eight days in Nepalgunj and surrounding areas.
He said that Muharram is observed in remembrance of Hazrat Imam Hussain and Hazrat Imam Hasan, the grandsons of the Prophet Muhammad, who were martyred in Karbala, Iraq. Muslims commemorate the occasion through a variety of religious programmes over ten days.
The festival, observed from the 1st to the 10th day of the month of Muharram, also includes the traditional installation of Tazias in memory of Imam Hussain and Imam Hasan.
According to the Nepal Muharram and Karbala Preservation Committee, the observances have included Dhol Milan on the 5th of Muharram, the Mehndi procession on the evening of the 6th, the Alam procession on the 7th, and fire mourning rituals and Zanjeer Matam on the 8th.
On the 9th day of Muharram, observed on Thursday evening, families will place Tazias made of paper and wood outside their homes and remain awake throughout the night in prayer and remembrance.
On the final day, the 10th of Muharram, the Tazias will be taken in a procession with traditional musical accompaniment to the Karbala grounds at Phultekra on Friday afternoon, where they will be ceremonially immersed, marking the conclusion of the festival.
Muslims in Nepalgunj have also called on the government to declare a public holiday for Muharram.
Local Muslim religious leader and community figure Maulana Abdul Jabbar Manjari said that the government’s failure to grant a public holiday reflects neglect of the community and urged the authorities to announce one without delay.
The Rising Nepal
