Muharram 2025: Youm-e-Ashura celebrated with great pomp in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: An atmosphere of mourning and jubilation prevailed in the city on Sunday on the occasion of ‘Yaum-e-Ashura’, the 10th day of Muharram. Apart from special prayers and gatherings, food distribution camps were organised at several places on the occasion. Popularly known as ‘Muharram’, the day commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the battle of Karbala centuries ago. Special religious gatherings were organised across the city to mark the day. Food camps were set up at various places while youths were seen distributing ‘sherbat’ among people by setting up makeshift kiosks. Groups of youths also visited hospitals and old-age homes to distribute cooked food and fruits. In the old city, Bibi ka alam (pennant) was taken out in a procession from Bibi ka Alwa in Dabeerpura. The procession started at 1 pm and passed through Sheikh Faiz Kaman, Yakutpura Road, Etebar Chowk, Aliza Kotla, Charminar, Gulzar Hauz, Panjshah, Mandi Mir Alam, Darulshifa and ended at Masjid-e-Ilahi at Chadarghat in the evening. An elephant ‘Lakshmi’ from Karnataka was brought to the city as per tradition to carry Bibi Ka Alam. The elephant’s arrival was delayed this year as the organisers faced problems in getting clearance from the forest department for transporting elephants from Jaipur and Delhi. Several mourning members of the Shia community marched along the procession beating their chests with slogans of ‘Ya Hussain’ and many people lined up along the procession route. Along the way, several prominent personalities and government officials offered ‘dhatti’ to Bibi Ka Alam at different places. Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand and other officials offered ‘dhatti’ to the Alam at Charminar. Several other smaller processions from across the city joined the main procession. The police had made extensive arrangements for the peaceful conduct of the procession.