Bhubaneswar: Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, was observed with great reverence and solemnity by people of Muslim community across Odisha today.
As per tradition, taziyas were taken out in different parts of the State in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad in the fierce Battle of Karbala.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik greeted the people on the occasion.
People of the Muslim community were seen thronging mosques since morning to offer ‘namaz’ in several places including Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Bhadrak and Rourkela.
In Sambalpur, a Hindu family at Modipada in the town took out ‘taziya’ to observe the day. It is reported that the Hindu family has been celebrating the festival for generations.
“We have been taking out the taziya procession since 1964 and celebrating the festival along with our Muslins brothers,” said a member of the family.
In Bhadrak, people of Muslim community celebrated Muharram by offering special prayers at mosques and holding fasts. However, owing to the restriction by the authorities, taziya or any other processions were not taken out in the town.