Muharram observed in Odisha with tazia processions, mourning

Bhubaneswar: Thousands of people from Muslim community across Odisha took out large processions, beat drums and thumped their chests on Sunday to mourn the martyrdom of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam Hussain on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, the day of Ashura.

Most from the community observed voluntary fasts, and were seen holding special prayers, discourses and tazia processions in remembrance of Hussain.

They carried out tazias (replicas of the tomb of Imam Hussain) and enacted the battle of Karbala in various parts of the State including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Rourkela, Bhadrak, Balasore and Sambalpur.

However, keeping in view the processions of Durga idol immersion falling on the day of Muharram, elaborate security arrangements were made to avoid any form of unrest between the two communities.

In the silver city, Muharram was observed peacefully at Dargha Bazaar, Tala Telenga Bazaar, Pension Lane and Sutahat.

Similarly in Rourkela, the tazia processions were organised during the day time to avoid untoward incidents. Traditional stick fight and martial arts were the big crowd pullers in the procession.

In Sambalpur too, hundreds gathered from all areas of the district to take part in the tazia procession.