Muharram 2021: All about 'Ashura' the tenth day of Muharram

Muharram 2021: Muharram is the first month in the Islamic calendar or the Hijri calendar, Muharram is considered the second holiest month for Muslims across the globe. The day is also famous as Al Hijri or the Islamic New Year. This day also marks the journey of Prophet Mohammad from Mecca to Medina.

Muharram 2021:All about 'Ashura' the tenth day of Muharram

Based on the moon sighting, Ashura is on 20 August in India, the tenth day of Muharram. The word Muharram means 'forbidden' or 'prohibited'. Muslims across the globe are prohibited from participating in activities like warfare and spend their time in prayer and reflection.

Muharram 10th day is marked as Ashuraby Muslims all around the world. Muslims remembering the day Noah left the Ark. Shia Muslims avoid celebrating occasions, honouring the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad.

On this day of Ashura, Shia Muslims, mourn the martyrdom of Hussain in 680 AD at Karbala in modern-day Iraq. Shia men and women dressed in black take out processions through the streets beating their chests and chanting "Ya Hussain" or "Ya Ali". Some even imitate Hussain's suffering by whipping themselves. Many pilgrims visit the Husayn ibn Ali tomb in Karbala to pay homage to him.

Muslims across the globe observe fast on this day, which is not 'farz'(obligatory) but 'sunnah' as Prophet Mohammad observed Roza on this day after Prophet Musa according to the Sunni tradition. Muslims also recite verses from the Holy Quran, offer prayers.

Hasanuddin Ajaz Mutawalli of Alawa, Hyderabad said, "We have completed all the formalities. Two trained mahouts shall be accompanying the elephant on which the historic Bibi-Ka-Alam is taken out." He further added that all Covid-19 protocols would be followed strictly.