It is reported that some Shia members are unhappy with the ‘poor arrangements’ made by the government during Muharram.

Ashoorkhana approach roads have not been laid as they were in the past despite repeated representations. Despite the fact that it is the rainy season, even patchwork on the roads isn’t done, according to Syed Hamed Hussain Jafferi, president of Telangana Shia Youth Conference.

A maintenance grant is normally given to Ashoorkhanas to keep them in good condition, and this has not been released. According to Shia members who met with the Wakf Board on July 16 to discuss Muharram arrangements, they requested a sanction of Rs. 5 crores, similar to that released for the Bonalu festival. GHMC has put up temporary tin sheds at Badhshai Ashoorkhana and Bibi ka Alawa, but nothing else has been done, complains Jafferi.

What is Youm-e-Ashoora ?

Youm-e-Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, is just a day away, and the old city is filled with solemnity. Everything is black, from the mood to the ambiance to the attire. Women and men who are grieving can be seen walking barefoot in Darul Shifa, Yakhutpura, Noor Khan Bazaar, Mandi Mir Alam, and Irani Galli.  These areas are dreary and gloomy. Visitors wouldn’t miss it. If Ramzan is marked by gusto and gaiety, Muharram is characterized by poignancy.

It does not deter mourners from doing their work despite the current wet spell. With the setting sun, Ashoorkhanas and Majalis vibrate with unbridled emotions. As the cries of Ya Husain reverberate in their hearts, some people weep silently, others wail aloud, and others beat their chests to create ‘seena-zani’.

Since the Qutb Shahi Period, the first month of the Islamic calendar has seen intense mourning. In the 7th century AD, Hazrath Imam Husain, the grandson of the Prophet, and 72 others were martyred at the battle of Karbala in Iraq. During the 68-day mourning period, the community observes ‘tark-e-lazzat’ (abstinence) and gives up all culinary delights and celebrations.

In the city, there are 125 Ashoorkhanas which are centers of lamentation (Azadari). These structures served as social and cultural centers during the Qutb Shahi period and were also called Asthanas, Bargahs, and Imambaras.  The tragedy of Karbala is considered the leitmotif of marsiya, a form of poetry originating from them.

In the Badshahi Ashoorkhana (Patharghatti), Bibi Ka Alawa (Dabeerpura), Alawa-e-Khadme Rasool (Patharghatti), Aza Khana Zehra (Darul Shifa), Koh-e-Moula Ali (Secunderabad), etc., footfalls increase as the 10th of Muharram approaches. Zakareen (orators) recount the Karbala events in chilling detail, reducing audiences to tears at numerous Ashoorkhanas.

A city landmark, Badshahi Ashoorkhana, was built by the founder of the city, Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah. Historically, Hyderabad’s streets were decorated with 10,000 lamps arranged in ten rows. During Muharram’s first 10 days, the Sultan would light 1000 candles daily. It is no longer as popular as it once was, but is still a functional example of living heritage during the month of mourning.

Badshahi Ashoorkhana is a 14th-century monument built just three years after Charminar and continues to enchant visitors with its exquisite enamel tiles and vibrant colors. Naqar Khana, Abdar Khana, and Niyaz Khana are ancillary structures in the open ground that have suffered intense damage, but the main hall in the Badshahi Ashoorkhana remains in good condition.  All eyes are drawn to the multicolored tiles adorning the walls and the dominant motif of flaming Alams. In the arch on the southern wall, staggered hexagons with jewellike shapes fill the space. A large ‘Alam’ is placed in the center of the side panels on the north-west wall, and the western wall is decorated with Indian colors like mustard yellow and brown. The compositions are surrounded by swirls of flowers and leaves.

To mark the tenth of Muharram, the historic Bibi Ka Alam procession will be mounted on a caparisoned elephant. The Nizam’s Religious Trust, the custodian of the Bibi ka Alam, has requested she elephant from Kholapur in Maharashtra for the purpose. On August 5, the 38-year-old pachyderm was already rehearsed on the procession path and was found to be in perfect condition. At present, it is housed in Purani Haveli, the palace of the Nizam.

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