Muslims in Bangladesh are observing Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram in Islamic calendar, on Tuesday.
"The tragic incident at Karbala and the teachings of Ashura inspire us to raise our voice against injustice and walk through the path of truth and peace," president Mohammad Zillur Rahman said in a statement.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina in her statement invited the people to stand together to establish justice and thereby reflect the teachings of Ashura in the country.
Hossaini Dalan of Dhaka took out a procession around 10.30am carrying replicas of Hussein's mausoleum, called Taziya, the portraits of Prophet Mohammad's two grandsons—Imam Hasan ibn Ali and Hussein.
Imam Hussein's statement, "I have neither come out to attain power nor to create anarchy. Rather, I have come out to correct my grandfather's followers," inspires the Shi'ite community to bring out Taziya procession on this day to commemorate the tragic incident of Karbala, said Bakkar Reza Mazlum, the spokesperson for the organisers.
Countless pilgrims were chanting traditional 'matam', mourning for Hasan and Hussein.
Many were bleeding from the traditional chest beating that is performed to remind oneself of the suffering Hussein and his companions had gone through.
The procession would go through Azimpur and end at Dhanmondi Lake in the afternoon.
Another procession in the morning took off from Imambara and went through Bakshibazar, Najimuddin Road, Chawk Bazar, Chadni Ghat, Urdu Road before returning to Imambara.
Processions were also brought out from Mohammadpur and Mirpur where estranged Pakistanis are camped.
Muslims everywhere, especially the Shi'ites, observe Muharram to commemorate the slaying of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein Ibn Ali in 680 AD in the battle of Karbala.
On the first day of Muharram, the army of Caliph Yazid laid siege to Hussein and his followers in the desert near Karbala.
Hussein was killed in the battle 10 days later after he had refused to pledge loyalty to Yazid. Hussein was beheaded and his head was taken to Damascus, the seat of the Ummayad dynasty to which Yazid belonged.
For the Shi'ite, Hussein's death symbolises confronting oppression in the face of overwhelming odds.
During the ceremony, the Shi'ites beat their chests and gash their heads with swords to show their grief and echo of the suffering of Imam Hussein.
It is mainly observed in Iran and Iraq with majority Shi'ite Muslim population and in other countries with sizeable Shi'ite communities, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Several million pilgrims converge on Karbala on the occasion.
The day also bears significance for Sunni Muslims as Moses fasted on this day to express gratitude to God for liberating the Israelites from Egypt. According to tradition, Prophet Muhammad fasted on this day and asked everyone to do the same.
The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
"The tragic incident at Karbala and the teachings of Ashura inspire us to raise our voice against injustice and walk through the path of truth and peace," president Mohammad Zillur Rahman said in a statement.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina in her statement invited the people to stand together to establish justice and thereby reflect the teachings of Ashura in the country.
Hossaini Dalan of Dhaka took out a procession around 10.30am carrying replicas of Hussein's mausoleum, called Taziya, the portraits of Prophet Mohammad's two grandsons—Imam Hasan ibn Ali and Hussein.
Imam Hussein's statement, "I have neither come out to attain power nor to create anarchy. Rather, I have come out to correct my grandfather's followers," inspires the Shi'ite community to bring out Taziya procession on this day to commemorate the tragic incident of Karbala, said Bakkar Reza Mazlum, the spokesperson for the organisers.
Countless pilgrims were chanting traditional 'matam', mourning for Hasan and Hussein.
Many were bleeding from the traditional chest beating that is performed to remind oneself of the suffering Hussein and his companions had gone through.
The procession would go through Azimpur and end at Dhanmondi Lake in the afternoon.
Another procession in the morning took off from Imambara and went through Bakshibazar, Najimuddin Road, Chawk Bazar, Chadni Ghat, Urdu Road before returning to Imambara.
Processions were also brought out from Mohammadpur and Mirpur where estranged Pakistanis are camped.
Muslims everywhere, especially the Shi'ites, observe Muharram to commemorate the slaying of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Imam Hussein Ibn Ali in 680 AD in the battle of Karbala.
On the first day of Muharram, the army of Caliph Yazid laid siege to Hussein and his followers in the desert near Karbala.
Hussein was killed in the battle 10 days later after he had refused to pledge loyalty to Yazid. Hussein was beheaded and his head was taken to Damascus, the seat of the Ummayad dynasty to which Yazid belonged.
For the Shi'ite, Hussein's death symbolises confronting oppression in the face of overwhelming odds.
During the ceremony, the Shi'ites beat their chests and gash their heads with swords to show their grief and echo of the suffering of Imam Hussein.
It is mainly observed in Iran and Iraq with majority Shi'ite Muslim population and in other countries with sizeable Shi'ite communities, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Several million pilgrims converge on Karbala on the occasion.
The day also bears significance for Sunni Muslims as Moses fasted on this day to express gratitude to God for liberating the Israelites from Egypt. According to tradition, Prophet Muhammad fasted on this day and asked everyone to do the same.
The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh.
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