Undeterred by the intense cold, massive mourning processions were held in India-administered Kashmir to commemorate Arbaeen of the martyrs of Karbala.
Thousands of people took part in the processions, reciting soul-stirring elegies and hymns, wearing black dresses and badges, and beating their chests in a spirit of devotion.
Arbaeen marks the fortieth day from Ashura, when the grandson of Holy Prophet, Imam Hussain (AS), was martyred in the desert plains of Karbala in Iraq along with his family and friends 14 centuries ago. Muslims across the globe commemorate the sacrifices each year.
In Kashmir, the only Muslim-majority state in India, Ashura and Arabeen are observed with tremendous fervor and passion. Mourners parade the streets carrying the replicas of Imam Husain’s sepulture in Karbala.
Big banners and billboards are put up on every street, alley and pathway. According to these mourners, the annual commemorations help them re-organize their life around the pristine principles exemplified by Imam Husain and his companions in Karbala.
Volumes have been written to depict the tragedy of Karbala. More than 1400 years have passed but the memories of that great tragedy are still deeply etched in the hearts of people.
The late founder of Iran’s Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, brilliantly expressed the essential reality, saying that "Every day is Ashura and every place is Karbala."
Ashura and Karbala are symbolic representation that cannot be confined within the boundaries of time and place.
Today, Imam Hussain (A.S) is remembered for the brave sacrifices he made in order to save Islam.
The unyielding stance taken by Prophet Mohammad's grandson Imam Hussein against the evil in Karbala centuries ago carries an eloquent message that has gripped hearts and minds of people throughout history. These mourners, who have gathered here today to pay tribute to martyrs of Karbala, want to carry the tradition forward.
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