Muharam

Muharram is the name of a month that marks the beginning of the year according to the Islamic calendar (26 November 2011). Muharam is a Muslim festival widely celebrated in India (Delhi - near Jama Masjid, Mumbai - Goregaon, Pune, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Firewalk at Hospet near Hampi in Karnataka), Pakistan, Iraq.

Shia Muslims all over the world celebrates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein as Muharram. Imam Hussein (grand son of prophet Mohammad) with 72 followers were torched to death by Yazeed in Iraq in 1324 AD.

10 Muharram, referred to as the Day of Ashurah was the day on which Husayn ibn Ali was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. Shia Muslims spend the day in mourning, whilst the Sunni Muslims fast on this day commemorating the rescue of the people of Israel by Musa from Pharoah.



Self flagellation by the devout