Directory_and_Chronicle_1883 — Page 44

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MAHOMEDAN FESTIVALS, FASTS, AND OBSERVANCES.

Before accepting this invitation, Hossein sent Moslem, his cousin, as a messenger to report the true state of affairs to him; but on his arrival with his two sons at Shawn, he was seized by order of King Yazid, and cast from a precipice, and his two sons were barbarously murdered, for the sake of the reward offered for their heads. This forms the subject of the ten days' bewailing during the Moharram. The Mahomedans are divided into distinct sects, called the Sunis and the Shias. The former regard Ali and his descendants as the lawful leaders after Mahomed, and the latter the Kaliphas, as Abubakr, Omar, &c., hence quarrels, animosities, and dis- likes are hoarded up to be avenged when opportunity offers. The festival begins on the first day of the moon (Moharram), and Tazias (a term signifying grief, and applied to a representation of the mausoleum erected over the remains of Iman Hossein at Kurbalu), made of ivory, ebony, sandalwood, cedar, and some wrought in silver filigree, and indeed of every variety of material, from pure silver to bamboo and paper, according to the rank and wealth of the party, are exhibited in every direction, and conveyed in procession through the streets. Mourning assemblies are held morning and evening in the Imanbares during the Moharram, and the head priest or preacher recites a subject for each day's service from the various books composed on the subject descriptive of the lives and sufferings of Hassain and Hossein. The Marsiah, a poetical composition of great merit, and embracing the whole of the subject they commemorate, is chanted with great effect; the names of their lawful leaders are recounted with blessings, and those of the Kaliphas with curses. Then comes the procession of Dhal Dhal-Hossein's horse killed at Kurhala, beautifully caparisoned; and finally the Tazins are deposited with funeral rites in the public burial grounds, when the Moharram ceases. The Tabut is a slight framework of bamboo and tinsel. These structures vary considerably in size and appearance, according to the taste and ability of those who build them. Before these Tabuts incense is burned and various other rites are performed. The Tabuts, it is said, are peculiar to India. They are not mentioned. in the Koran, nor are they built by the inhabitants of Persia and Arabia. Many Mahomedans regard them with strong disapprobation, both Shias and Sunis. In Bombay a portion of the Mahomedans and Hindoos unite in building the Tabuts. These are taken out, and, accompanied with music, carried in procession through the Bhendy Bazaar, from midnight of the ninth until three o'clock of the morning of the tenth day, and from twelve to six o'clock on the afternoon of the same day, on their way to the beach in Back Bay, where the greater part of the Tabuts, after being stripped of whatever is of value, are cast into the sea. The practice of building Tabuts seems to be losing ground in Bombay, a portion of those who formerly united in this having adopted the views of those opposed to such things. Mahomedans, especially Sunis of India, who do not unite in building the Tabuts, are accustomed to go on this occasion to the mosques for ten successive nights to listen to the account of the death of Hossein. Their demonstrations of grief, however, are not equal to those of the Moguls and Persians (because Mahomedans are forbidden to weep aloud), who while listening to the recital, weep aloud and smite violently upon their breast. Bomb there is, strictly speaking, no representation of the battle which was fought previous to the death of Hossein. Some two or three horsemen bearing flags. enter the large yard adjoining the Imanbares with loud wailing, and are followed by two horses caparisoned to represent those which were kept for the use of the fallen Hossein. One person on horseback, with a long sword apparently run through the head and covered with blood, joins in the wailing. A female infant, in deep mourning, sitting at the door of a small mausoleum, which is carried on the shoulders of men, constantly casts ashes or cut-straw upon her head, in token of grief. These pass round in a circle, accompanied or followed by a company on foot who beat upon their breast, crying, "Hai Hossein! Hai Hossein!" Sometimes, a person represented in a dying state, his body covered with wounds and blood, and darts and daggers run into it, is carried about in procession. It would seem that this festival is now celebrated with less effort and effect than formerly. It is entirely dissapproved by the Sunis.