The Shia Muslim community in Srinagar observed the 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, with a significant procession in memory of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala. Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha participated in the solemn event, distributing water among mourners along the historic route from Bota Kadal to Imambara Zadibal.
Under tight security measures, thousands gathered to pay their respects on this day, which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was killed in 680 CE. The Jammu and Kashmir administration allowed the traditional Ashura procession while enforcing strict guidelines to ensure communal harmony and public order.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha not only joined the mourners at Bota Kadal area of Srinagar but also presented a formal ‘chadar’ to Zuljanah, Imam Hussein’s loyal horse, symbolizing unity and goodwill among participants. Security forces, including police and CRPF personnel, maintained a vigilant presence throughout the procession, which was cleared of traffic to facilitate safe passage.
This year’s observance marked the third consecutive year that the 10th Muharram procession was permitted in Srinagar, following a 35-year ban that was lifted in 2023, signaling a move towards peace and normalcy in the Valley. Despite previous concerns regarding inflammatory acts during the 8th Muharram procession, this year’s event proceeded peacefully, with no flags of any foreign organization present aside from a picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
The procession culminated at Imambara Zadibal, where Zuljanah was honored as a living symbol of the tragedy of Karbala. Shia mourners expressed their devotion by touching and kissing the horse, bringing their children under it to connect with Imam Hussein’s sacrifice. Historical narratives recount how Zuljanah protected Imam Hussein during the battle, enduring wounds and returning to alert his family after his martyrdom.
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