Latest news with #Ashoora
Daily Tribune
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Religious observance and public participation hailed
MP Hassan Ibrahim has credited those involved in organising this year's Ashoora season and the 27th Imam Hussain Blood Donation Campaign, saying the smooth turnout and coordination were the result of close cooperation between state agencies and community organisers. He thanked His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, whose backing, he said, ensured the space for religious observance and public participation. He singled out the Ministry of Interior, the Jaafari Waqf Directorate and the Capital Governorate, along with clerics, charity groups, ma'atam heads and volunteers. Together, they kept processions orderly and helped manage access to mourning halls in central Manama. The use of shuttle buses from outlying districts into the capital, arranged by the Jaafari Waqf Directorate (JWD), was described as a practical step that eased congestion and helped mourners attend without adding to traffic. Community Police and traffic teams were present at key points and kept roads clear without fuss. As for the blood drive, the MP said the campaign saw a strong turnout in its 27th year. He said such efforts not only support Bahrain's blood reserves, but show how religious occasions can carry direct benefit for public welfare.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- General
- 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.
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Muharram beyond the main procession: the pulse of faith in smaller ashoorkhanas
The voice of the zakir, narrating the heartrending saga of Imam Hussain's martyrdom in Karbala (in present-day Iraq), rises from the bylanes of Darul Shifa, Hyderabad's historic Shia quarter. The air is thick with emotion, the neighbourhood wrapped in black buntings and punctuated by red flags that bear the Imam's name as if written in blood. Along both sides of the road, men and women dressed in black move quietly in and out of ashoorkhanas, paying respects to the alams, thesymbolic metal standards that commemorate the tragedy of Karbala. They recall the story of the fight against injustice, against all odds, including the deprivation of water, the very source of life. Nearby, sabeel stalls offer free water in plastic pouches and earthen cups, a gesture rich in remembrance. As Ashoora, the 10th day of Muharram, approaches, the air grows heavy with anticipation. One of Hyderabad's oldest centralised processions will soon wind its way through the city, with thousands joining the solemn march that centres around the carrying of the alam. The crescendo of religious fervour is unmistakable. Just off the unadorned grave of Ibn-e-Khatoon, a scholar and peshwa in the court of Qutb Shahi king Abdullah, lie lesser-known ashoorkhanas that have either mutawallis or managing committees, and see active participation by families living in and around them. One such space, tucked away in Zahra Nagar off Mandi Mir Alam Road, is the ashoorkhana of Mah Laqa Bai Chanda, the famed courtesan, poet and political figure in the court of Mir Nizam Ali Khan. Mah Laqa Bai, whose diwan (collection of poems) titled Gulzar-e-Mahlaqa remains a rare literary accomplishment by a woman of her time, was a known patron of this site. A narrow lane across from the walls of Purani Haveli leads to a modest doorway between low white walls. Inside lies a courtyard that belies its quiet entrance. The structure features five arches — the central one larger than the rest — leading to a chamber where several alams stand at attention. On each side are mirrors and a sarpech (ornamental headband), giving off a strangely anthropomorphic impression. Mohammed Salman Ali, who lives in the small quarters surrounding the ashoorkhana, says, 'We open this space for zaireen (visitors/ pilgrims) only during Muharram. The alams are kept in the room to the left and installed on the eve of Muharram. It has always been cared for by our family.' A short walk from here is the Lohe ki Kamaan ashoorkhana, relatively lesser-known, which also sees participation of families that live in and around it. A wooden inscription at the entrance, which itself is supported by wooden beams, likely gives an indication of when it was established — 1060 of the Hijri calendar, corresponding to 1650 AH. At Alawa-e-Mulla Razi, an ashoorkhana known for its distinctive jack-arch roofs, visitors are offered tabarruk, comprisinga sachet of dry fruits, chutney and a sweet. 'It isn't that people cannot come here in other months, but the alams are installed only during Muharram,' says Mir Iqbal Ali, who says he belongs to the family of those who take care of the place. Majlis, congregations where the incidents of Karbala are narrated, take place, drawing huge crowds, he points out. Historical records show that Muharram observance was greatly encouraged during the Qutb Shahi period, primarily to maintain the integration of the State. According to a Census of India document, prominent Hindu nobles, including Akanna, Madanna, Taramati, and Premamati, also took part in the rituals. After Golconda's fall, members of the nobility like Siraj-ul-Mulk, Munir-ul-Mulk and Rukn-ud-Dowla continued to patronise Muharram commemorations. During the Asaf Jahi era, Hindu nobles such as Maharaja Chandu Lal, Narendra Pershad Bahadur and Raja Bansilal contributed generously to the rituals. The same document notes that Operation Polo significantly altered the way Muharram was observed, citing the migration of Muslim nawabs and the abolition of the jagirdari system as two key reasons behind the shift. Sibghat Khan of The Deccan Archives observes that while larger and more prominent ashoorkhanas have always served as places of worship, lesser-known ones undergo a striking transformation during Muharram. 'These ashoorkhanas, usually closed to the public for rituals during the rest of the year, come alive in this month. This shift is not easy and should be studied in a more systematic fashion. In terms of historical value, the inscriptions here and the engravings on alams also deserve in-depth study,' he remarks. Mir Abbas Ali Moosvi, representing the Anjuman-e-Tahaffuz-e-Huqooq-e-Mujawareen Qadimeen Mourusi Ashoorkhanajaat, a body that coordinates between the government and ashoorkhana office-bearers, adds that even smaller ashoorkhanas hold deep significance. 'Each has its own unique history. Last year, the State government gave grants-in-aid to 705 ashoorkhanas, many of them modest in size. This year, however, the disbursal has been delayed. It should have reached the management of these ashoorkhanas before the arrival of Muharram,' he says. Touching upon the community aspect, Mr. Moosvi adds that while mutawallis are men, the women of the family also play an important role in making arrangements at these ashoorkhanas. 'Arrangements for women's majlis, and the preparation and packing of tabarruk are important activities,' he says.
Daily Tribune
03-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Tribune
Ensuring food safety during Ashoora season
The Northern Governor, His Excellency Ali bin Al Shaikh Abdulhussain Al Asfoor, convened a virtual meeting with the heads of food and drink distribution areas (Madaifs) and relevant government representatives to coordinate preparations for the Ashoora season. The Northern Governor emphasised the governorate's ongoing collaboration with partners to ensure food safety for visitors, underscoring its commitment to public health standards and community well-being through adherence to World Health Organisation (WHO) Healthy Cities Programme guidelines. The Ministry of Health officials outlined critical food safety protocols for high-temperature conditions, emphasising the importance of proper preparation and storage standards. The General Directorate of Civil Defence representatives complemented these measures with essential safety guidance, including secure gas cylinder mechanisms and hygienic food distribution practices. The Northern Governor announced pl
Daily Tribune
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Southern Governor Inspects Isa Town Community Centre Ahead of Ashoora
His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Ali Al Khalifa, Southern Governor, conducted an inspection visit to the Isa Town Community Centre (Mattam) in preparation for the Ashoora season. He was accompanied by the Deputy Southern Governor and the Deputy Director-General of Southern Governorate Police. The visit aimed to oversee readiness and ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place. HH the Southern Governor reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening community partnership in line with the directives of His Excellency Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, ensuring full support and cooperation on both security and social fronts. He praised the efforts of security and service authorities and their collaboration with community centres, highlighting the importance of continued coordination to ensure a safe and successful Ashoora season.
