What Are Taziya, Alam, And Taboot? A Guide To Muharram's Sacred Symbols And Their Significance
Taziya
Meaning: Derived from the Arabic word aza, meaning mourning or commemoration, the Taziya is a symbolic replica of the tomb of Imam Hussain in Karbala.
Significance: Taziyas act as visual and spiritual focal points during Muharram, encapsulating the pain of Karbala and offering mourners a tangible form through which to channel their sorrow.
Cultural Context: In India and other South Asian countries, Taziyas are crafted using bamboo, paper, and decorative materials. Though rooted in Shia Islamic traditions, their creation often involves artisans from various religious backgrounds, showcasing shared cultural heritage. The structures are carried in processions and are buried symbolically on Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram.
Alam
Meaning: Alam is the standard or flag associated with Hazrat Abbas, the half-brother of Imam Hussain and his loyal standard-bearer at Karbala.
Significance: The Alam stands as a powerful emblem of loyalty, valour, and sacrifice. It commemorates Abbas's heroic but tragic attempt to bring water to the parched camp of Imam Hussain, during which he was martyred.
Ritual Use: Held high during processions, the Alam leads the way as a banner of resistance and faith. It reminds mourners of Abbas's courage and the values he upheld.
Taboot
Meaning: Taboot, meaning coffin, represents the symbolic coffins of Karbala's martyrs, including Imam Hussain's infant son, Ali Asghar.
Significance: This symbol evokes deep emotion, recalling the brutal violence faced by the martyrs. It is a centrepiece of lamentation, reflecting on themes of sacrifice, suffering, and injustice.
Ritual Use: Taboots are draped in white cloth with red stains to mimic blood, often adorned with miniature swords and arrows. These are paraded through the streets and finally laid to rest in symbolic graves, mirroring the fate of those slain at Karbala.
Cultural and Religious Impact
Together, Taziya, Alam, and Taboot are not merely ritual objects but living embodiments of the Karbala narrative. They help Shia Muslims and even broader communities connect with a legacy of resistance, justice, and remembrance. These symbols continue to play a vital role in preserving historical memory and fostering interfaith cultural dialogue across regions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Crafting objects that transcend faiths
Jehangir trusts only Yadagiri when it comes to the colourful decoration that is part of the Muharram commemoration in Telangana. Known as Peerula Panduga, the observance of Muharram, takes on a syncretic cultural aspect that is unique to the region and parts of rural Andhra Pradesh. The replica of battle standards used in the battle of Karbala which are known as alam are called piru in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 'There is nobody who has the skill, ability and craftsmanship like Yadagirisaab. Look at these paper flowers. They look real. No plastic decor can match what he can do,' says Jehangir who has travelled from Choutuppal to Charminar to pick up the decoration that is known as sehra. An intricate design that uses a bamboo frame with red and green coloured paper, mirrors, photographs and shimmer. 'The sehra is used to keep the alam in the middle,' says Jehangir who runs a chicken business in Choutuppal. Yadagiri is a fourth generation bamboo craftsman for the sehra and thotelu who lives with his wife Anusaya. 'He is an artist. He has a way of moving scissors or drawing a line that cannot be matched. Look at these figures and the cut,' she says proudly as Yadagiri's fingers move briskly from scissors, to adhesive to bending the bamboo sticks. Sitting inside another small room on the road to Charminar, with his mother and brother lending a helping hand is Naveen Kumar, another craftsman who nimbly weaves thin bamboo strands into a round object that will be the finial of another bamboo artefact of another faith — thotelu. On the first day of Bonalu festival, the tall square miniature temples (objects fashioned out of bamboo and covered with coloured paper), are taken out in procession through the streets. '90% of the orders we get for sehra are from the districts. People send photographs and place the order and pick them up three days before Ashoora (10th day of Muharram). We have more orders for Bonalu thotelu,' says Naveen Kumar who makes both the objects that transcend faith and belief systems. 'I know when Aashadam is and plan logistics accordingly. I know that Islamic calendar keeps advancing by a few days and track that as well,' says Santosh Anand, another craftsman near the oldest Jama Masjid in Hyderabad. While modern Hyderabad is considered one city, the tradition of Bonalu shows how it is a collection of cities with the first Bonalu celebration at the Golconda Fort, followed by Lashkar Bonalu or the Bonalu in Secunderabad and ending up with the Bonalu of Akkanna Madanna Mahankali Temple in the Old City. Not surprisingly, Bonalu is not celebrated in a big way in rural Telangana.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Royal kitchen upholds 186-yr-old tradition of Tabarruk in Lucknow
LUCKNOW: The Chhota Imambara in City of Nawabs is buzzing with hectic activity for the last nine days during the ongoing sacred month of Muharram as the royal kitchen (Bawarchikhana) comes alive with traditional preparation of 20,000 servings of royal offering (tabarruk- blessed food) daily till the day of Muharram which falls on Sunday. Operated by the Hussainabad Trust, the Chhota Imambara Bawarchikhana prepares these offerings which are sent to various imambaras, mausoleums, and karbalas across the City of Nawabs to be distributed among those attending the majlis. Muharram, the first and one of the most sacred months of the Islamic calendar, marks the beginning of the Hijri New Year. As per tradition, the exact date of Muharram is determined based on the sighting of the moon. Moreover, tabarruk is also delivered to 325 Nawabi-e-Awadh (royal) families, while upholding a tradition of 186 years. Interestingly, the offerings are cooked in desi ghee over a wood fire and served in earthen vessels. A budget of Rs 47 lakh has been allocated for the entire arrangement. According to Nawab Masood Abdullah, a descendant of Nawab-e-Awadh Tajdar Mohammad Ali Shah, his ancestors started this royal kitchen in 1839. Their tradition has been continuing for 186 years. As per the menu of tabarruk, for five days, fried potato curry (gravy dish), bakharkhani (sweet red bread) and khamiri roti are distributed among the devotees attending majlis to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. For the remaining four days, chana dal, khamiri roti and bakharkhani are distributed. The menu of the traditional Tabarruk happens to be completely vegetarian.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Delhi Police gear up for July 6 Muharram procession with city-wide traffic plan: Here's what you need to know
Ahead of the Muharram procession on July 6, Delhi Police has put in place special traffic arrangements across the city to ensure smooth vehicle movement and public safety, officials said. Speaking to ANI, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Dinesh Kumar Gupta, said, 'As Muharram is on July 6 in Delhi, we have made detailed traffic plans. Our aim is to provide diversions where needed and ensure the public faces as little trouble as possible. We will also be present on the ground to monitor the Muharram procession closely.' Traffic plans for Kanwar Yatra too Talking about the Kanwar Yatra, a major annual Hindu religious event that brings lakhs of devotees to the roads, Gupta added that police are ready with their plan. 'We have made preparations from July 12 to July 22. We have marked the routes for the Kanwar Yatra and arranged barricades so that Kanwariyas do not move on the main roads,' he said. He added that on the last two days of the Yatra, traffic police will be fully deployed to manage diversions and keep movement smooth. Live Events Importance of both events Muharram is a major day of mourning for Shia Muslims and is observed with large processions and tazias . In India, the 7–8 crore Shia Muslim population, along with people from other communities, take part in these events with devotion and respect. The Kanwar Yatra, on the other hand, is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage where devotees carry holy river water to pour on Lord Shiva's shrines. It is believed that even Parshuram, an avatar of Lord Vishnu and a devotee of Shiva, took part in the first yatra. Devotees observe fasting, perform rituals and walk for hundreds of kilometres during this annual event. Inputs from agencies Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
