Lucknow, UTTAR PRADESH :
Mahmudabad :
The pallid, smudgy walls of Mahmudabad fort glistened in yellow lights as hundreds of followers of Imam Husain (Prophet Mohammad’s grandson and martyr of Karbala) walked barefoot on the rugged path from the outer gate to its interiors, beating drums and reciting ‘nauha’ (elegy) that filled the air with a tradition that has been part of the cross cultural commemoration of Muharram at the royal estate. For centuries, locals have been an important aspect of the Muharram legacy and on Saturday, Mahmudabad offered a special experience for many first-timers from Lucknow and other cities of India as well as foreign nationals from different religious backgrounds, who took part in the tradition, showcasing the synergistic nature of Awadh’s heritage.
A joint effort of Waqf-e-Maharaja and a citizen-driven initiative working for communal harmony- Shoulder to Shoulder (S2S), ‘Karbala: Beyond Religious Boundaries’ served opportune time for people from different cultures to gather and watch closely what Muharram signifies. An eye-opener to Awadh’s culture, the initiative served also as a platform for breaking several myths about Islam and Shia faith.
“I thought there would be a ‘tamasha’ of people striking their bodies with blades but instead I came to know about the sacrifice of Imam Husain and could feel the pain during the sermon,” said Amit Kumar, part of the entourage from Lucknow.
Visitors witnessed several traditional arts that are part of ‘azadaari’ (mourning) at this Sitapur town and the intangible heritage of Awadh, from melancholic classical Indian ragas on shehnai like Khamaj and Bhairavi , to the recitation of ‘sozkhwani’ and ‘marsiya’ in English and Urdu and experiencing the age old tradition of Nassari-a dying narrative art.
“In most part of the world, I had met only Sunnis from Asia but here is an example of how much more there is to India than just one culture,” said Philipp Jeun from Switzerland.
When the maulana (priest) began his speech on Karbala with: “Dar-e-Husain pe milte hain har khayal ke log/yeh ittehaad ka markaz hai aadmi ke liye (At Husain’s threshold meet people of all ideologies/this is the hub of unity of mankind),” all agreed in unison.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City News> Lucknow / by Yusra Hussain / TNN / October 11th, 2016