Latest news with #Zuljanah
India.com
06-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Ashura Observed Peacefully In Srinagar; LG Manoj Sinha Joins Procession
The Shia Muslim community observed the commemoration of Imam Hussain's martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha participated in the procession and distributed water among mourners. Amid tight security, the 10th of Muharram, also known as Ashura, was observed in Srinagar with deep religious reverence, particularly by the Shia Muslim community. This day commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. The Jammu and Kashmir administration permitted the traditional Ashura procession along the historic route from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal, under strict guidelines to maintain communal harmony and public order. Thousands of mourners participated in the procession, with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha joining at Bota Kadal. He distributed water and refreshments and offered a ceremonial 'Chaddar' to the Zuljanah, symbolising solidarity and goodwill. Security arrangements were stringent, with police and civil administration ensuring safety and traffic management. The District Magistrate imposed specific conditions banning anti-national slogans, provocative symbols, or actions that could disrupt communal harmony. This marked the third consecutive year that the 10th Muharram procession was allowed in Srinagar after a 35-year ban was lifted in 2023, reflecting a broader move towards peace and normalcy in the region. The entire route of the procession was declared traffic-free and was guarded by armed personnel from the police and the CRPF. Despite a reported violation during the earlier 8th Muharram procession where legal action was taken against individuals for provocative acts. The 10th Muharram procession remained peaceful. Apart from a picture of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, no flags of any other country or organisation were seen in the procession. The large procession began from Bota Kadal in downtown Srinagar and concluded at the Imambara in Zadibal. The highlight of the procession was Zuljanah, the symbolic horse of Imam Hussain. Zuljanah holds profound significance in the Shia Muslim community as the loyal horse of Imam Hussain, who is believed to have remained faithful until the Imam's martyrdom. It is a central focus of the 10th Muharram observance in Shia Islam, representing resistance against tyranny and oppression. During Muharram—particularly on the 10th day—Shia communities worldwide honor Zuljanah through processions featuring a decorated, riderless horse or its replica, symbolizing Imam Hussain's martyrdom and the horse's role in the battle. Zuljanah is revered as the Imam's final companion when human allies had forsaken him. Shia mourners express deep affection by touching, kissing, or feeding the horse or its replica. Many also pass their children under the horse, viewing it as a means of connecting with Imam Hussain's sacrifice. According to historical narratives, during the Battle of Karbala, Zuljanah shielded Imam Hussain from enemy attacks, taking arrows meant for him. After the Imam's martyrdom, the bloodied and wounded horse returned to the camp to alert his family, an act symbolising unwavering devotion and sacrifice. This underscores the Shia emphasis on loyalty to the Prophet's family and the importance of standing firm against injustice.
Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pindi finalises Ashura security plan
Preparations for the six main Ashura mourning processions, including Zuljanah, Tazia, and Alam processions in Rawalpindi, have been completed. The Ashura security plan has been approved and immediately implemented. Under the plan, Rangers have been called in, while army units will remain on red alert. Aerial surveillance of the processions will be conducted via helicopter. According to officials, 8,500 police personnel, 700 civil defence volunteers, and 100 female volunteers have been deployed for security. Mobile phone and internet services will remain suspended from 6:30 am to midnight on the day of Ashura. Drone monitoring of the processions will also be carried out. A control room has been established, and bomb disposal squads will accompany the routes. Three ambulances will be stationed at the front and back of the processions, along with mobile medical clinics. After Maghrib prayers, IESCO's light vehicles will provide illumination along the routes. A ban has been imposed on pillion riding, while the dumping of building material, garbage, or debris on the routes of the five main processions is strictly prohibited. Mosques along the routes will remain closed except during prayer times and will otherwise be sealed. Loudspeakers will only be allowed for the call to prayer (Azan). Shops and markets along the routes will remain closed and sealed. Residents of houses, plazas, and shops along the routes have been prohibited from standing or peeking out of rooftops or windows. Police will be stationed on rooftops in sensitive areas. Mounted police units will escort the front and rear of the processions. Monitoring will be carried out through 350 closed-circuit cameras. Entry to the processions will be strictly through walk-through gates. The carrying of matches, cigarette lighters, weapons, or sticks has been banned. Violators will be charged under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The storage of bricks or stones on rooftops along the procession routes has also been prohibited. Parking of vehicles and motorcycles along the routes is banned, and violators will have their vehicles impounded. On Ashura morning at Fajr prayer time, all routes will be sealed using containers, trucks, and barbed wire. A total of 137 streets and narrow lanes along the procession routes will also be sealed with tractor trolleys, containers, handcarts, and barbed wire, and police personnel will be deployed.
