08 January 2009
Dhaka, Bangladesh
January 20, 2008 was the Holy Ashura, a religious festival of real significance celebrated by the Shiite (Shia) Muslim community around the world. There is a substantial Shiite community in Bangladesh who celebrate the occasion every year with a lot of zeal and passion. Several processions are held at different areas of Dhaka City.
I've been to the Ashura processions before. But in 2008, I went to the processions held at Mohammadpur, which was much smaller than the main processions that start from Old Dhaka and end up at Dhanmondi. This time, I decided to go with the bigger procession. This procession was a lot different from the ones I saw at Mohammadpur, not just because of their relative size, but mainly because of their mood. The one I saw at Mohammadpur, was much more festive, whereas, the one of Old Dhaka kept a mourning profile. The main procession of Old Dhaka lacked the multitude of colourful Tazia seen at Mohammadpur. But it sure had an overwhelming number of colourful flags and banners. The biggest difference came in the form of some "dagger stunts". Young men hurt themselves hard and bleed with blunt daggers to feel some of the pain that Hussein-Ibne Ali (A), the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (SM) felt at the Battle of Karbala (approx. 20 October 680 AD; 10th day of Muharram 61 AH). I felt the difference of mood from the word 'go' as we all had to take off our shoes to be allowed to travel with the procession. And from then on, I didn't see a lot of similarity with the one I saw a year back at Mohammadpur.
The procession started in the morning hours and ended some time after 1:30PM. I was just too tired to see the Mohammadpur procession that usually starts in the afternoon and ends some time in the evening.
Here are some of the glimpses from the event.
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Mourn you; mourn!!
Young men beat their chest to mourn shaheed Hussein (A)
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Startled!!
A young one is startled by the magnificence of the occasion...... still trying to figure out the importance of the ritual he is passing through........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
You're just too big for me...........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Holy milk.......
Milk rolling from the feet of the decorated horse, resembling Dhul Zana, the horse of Hussein (A)........ People were collecting the milk from the ground as a holy possession........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Windows........01
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Dwarfed by the occasion........01
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Windows........02
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Everyone participates.........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Mourn!! Beat your chest o' young souls........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Love for life's all good......
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
They saw it too!!........01
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
In the chaos........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Dwarfed by the occasion........02
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Dwarfed by the occasion........03
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Windows........03
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
They saw it too!!........02
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Dwarfed by the occasion........04
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Dwarfed by the occasion........05
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Carrying the Tazia.........
I only saw a couple of them; being carried by individuals above their heads......
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
The conquerer!!
There were many professional photographers coverting the event, as there were enthusiasts.......
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
A maze of media.........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
A 'touch' of holy occasion.........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
This was supposed to be a mourning parade!!
Security was very tight indeed..... there were many checkposts.....
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Carrying the colours...........01
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Carrying the colours...........02
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Carrying the colours...........03
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Carrying the colours...........04
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
The colours of the occasion........01
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
The colours of the occasion........02
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........01
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........02
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........03
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........04
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........05
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........06
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........07
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Pain has no colour.........08
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Stairs.........
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| From Holy Ashura Processions, Dhaka, January 2009 |
Just for a glimpse!!
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