MUHARRAM FESTIVAL

Muharram becomes the first month of the Islamic Calendar and considered as the sacred month pf the year
according to the Muslims. The tenth day of the Muharram is the day of most significance which is celebrated
with huge enthusiasm by the people of different factions of Muslim community for various reasons. The tenth
day of the Muharram is of great importance, celebrated by the Shia Muslims in order to mourn the death of
Hussain Ibn Ali whereas by the Sunni Muslims in order observe the victory of Moses over Egyptian Pharaoh.

According to the Shia Muslim, Hussain Ibn Ali was the famous figure in the Muslim religion and considered
as the member of the Muhammads household. According to the history, once, he refused to accept the Islamic
rules by the Yazid. And he started revolting against him which gave rise to the Karbalan (a battle) during
which he was beheaded whereas his family members were imprisoned in the Damascus.
Whereas, according to the Sunni Muslims, it is the day when Moses got victory over Egyptian Pharaohs.
According to the history, it is considered as the Moses was a religious Islam leader, who was propagating the
religious teachings among people all around the world. And he got victory on the tenth day of the Muharram
over the Pharaohs of Egypt.

Both factions of the Muslim community celebrate this day with almost identical traditions. The difference is
only that, Shia Muslim observe this day with fast on this day whereas Sunni Muslims observe this day with
fast for an extra day (before or after this day) according to the teachings of the Muhammad Prophet.
Sometimes, Shia Muslims keep fast for the whole month as well as celebrate the day by flagellating
themselves with sticks and rods in order to commemorate all the sufferings of the Hussain Ibn Ali (while
fighting to Yazid).

MUHARRAM FESTIVAL 2017

Muharram festival 2017 would be celebrated by the people of Islam religion all over the world in the month of
September and October. It would start in the evening of Wednesday (20th of September) and end in the evening
of Friday (20th of October). Dates of the celebration may vary according to the place.
WHEN MUHARRAM FALLS
It falls every year as the first month of the Islamic calendar and considered as one of the four sacred months of
the year in Islam. It is a gazetted holiday (day off for the workers) all over the India in order to mark the start
of Islamic year.

HISTORY OF MUHARRAM FESTIVAL

According to the Holy Quran, Muharram is one of the four sacred months of the year (other three are
Zulqadah, Zulhijjah, and Rajab). The English meaning of Muharram is Forbidden and it is celebrated as the
first month of the twelve months of Islamic lunar calendar. People celebrate this day when they see the
crescent moon. It is celebrated by the people of Muslim community to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam
Hussain (including his family members and followers), a grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. He was killed
including with his family members and followers in AD 680 during the Battle of Karbala. People also
remember Ali (the son-in-law of Prophet) and his elder son Hassan while celebrating the Muharram because
they too suffered a lot and died for the rights of whole Muslim community.

This festival symbolizes the beginning of the new Islamic year. Muharram word is derived from the word
haram which means forbidden. The whole month of Muharram is considered as sacred during which
fighting is strictly prohibited. First ten days of this festival is called as the period of mourning. According to
the history, it is considered that Prophet Mohammed had no successor as he never named anyone. So his
followers has been elected as his successor. Hussain, the younger son of Ali, was assassinated on tenth day in
month of Muharram thats why the event is so called Ashura. This led to the division of whole Muslim
community into Shias and Sunnis. This day is celebrated by the Shias Muslim by considering rightful
successors of the Prophet Mohammed (Ali, Hassan and Hussain). They mourn the death of Prophets
successors during the Muharram and on the occurrence of crescent moon they recite the plaintive verses on the
sweetened cold drink by wearing the black dress in the memory of the Imam Hussain. Whereas, it is celebrated
by the Sunnis Muslim as the occasion during which they maintain calm and silence.

SIGNIFICANCE AND RITUAL OF MUHARRAM FESTIVAL

Muharram festival is the day of great significance and its first 10 days are celebrated by the Muslim people of
Shia community by giving honour to the assassination of the Hazrat Imam Hussain and his family members
(killed and imprisoned by the forces of Umayyad ruler Yazeed Ibn Muawiyah in the Battle of Karbala in
680AD). People of the Muslim religion keep fast for whole month (not mandatory) believing as the virtues and
awards of this sacred month.

CELEBRATION OF MUHARRAM FESTIVAL

Muharram festival is celebrated all over the world by both Sunni and Shia Muslims for whole month or
especially 10th day of Muharram. They celebrate Muharram as a month of mourning to commemorate the
event took place at Kerbala with Imman Hussain, his family members and followers. It is celebrated as the
gazetted holiday all over the India thats why banks, government offices, post offices, Islamic stores,
businesses, organizations and other offices remain closed for full day or opened for only sometime. This
festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm with large prayer meetings (in the mosques or private homes),
parades and marches which cause local traffic. It is celebrated in the same manner by the Muslim community
all over the country. It is also celebrated as the month of mourning in order to commemorate the Battle of
Karbala. Muslim people of Shia community, cry very loudly and beat their chest by being sorrow in order to
commemorate all the sufferings of the Imam Hussain and his followers.