Muharram in Pakistan: From the symbolic ceremony of “Zul-Janah” to “Safina Al-Najat”
All sections of the people of Pakistan, with its population of 200 million people, have a special interest in holding the mourning ceremony of the first decade of the month of Muharram as grandly as possible. The most similar people to Iran in the commemoration of Muharram are Pakistanis, and in every neighborhood and alley, mourning ceremonies are set up.
During these days, Shiites mourn with the speeches of scholars, breast-beating, chanting, and chain-wearing, but in Sunni mosques and schools, during the days of Tasua and Ashura, they have speech ceremonies and cooking offerings to be distributed in the neighborhoods and among the poor.
Simultaneously with the arrival of Muharram 1446, we started to introduce mourning habits and customs in different neighboring countries.
The spiritual atmosphere of Pakistan in the month of Muharram
At the beginning of the month of Muharram, Pakistani Shiites wear black clothes, turn off the lights in their homes, and do not use bedding when sleeping. Also, the cooking of food is closed, especially in Sadat’s house, and most of the people participate in mourning ceremonies from morning to evening.
Leaving the dishes and turning off the cooking stove until the end of Muharram is another common custom of Pakistani people, especially the villagers in this month. During these days, men avoid shaving and wearing new clothes, and women avoid makeup and use jewelry such as earrings and bracelets.
It is customary among people that no one laughs in this month, and if someone laughs loudly, he is warned to avoid such laughter in the month of Muharram. The 9th and 10th days of Muharram, which coincide with Tasua and Ashura days, are official holidays. Also, speech gatherings, reciting prayers, Tasua, and Ashura are among the ceremonies of these days in Pakistan. Decorating the flag of Hazrat Abbas (pbuh), making a replica of the shrine of Imam Hussain (pbuh), making the coffins of the martyrs of Karbala, and decorating the Zuljanah of the horse of Imam Hussain (pbuh) for the mourning delegations are among the customs of the people of Pakistan in mourning the martyrs.
Sunni marketers also set up salawati stations in front of their stores and commercial places during the days of Tasua and Ashura and give cold water, syrup, and tea to mourners and ordinary people. Television channels, especially Pakistan’s national network, also broadcast mourning ceremonies and speeches by Shia and Sunni scholars regarding the philosophy of martyrdom of Imam Hussain, Ahl al-Bayt (AS) and his companions from the 1st to the 11th of Muharram. The broadcasting of music on all public and private networks is interrupted during the days of Taswa and Ashura, and in this way, a special spiritual atmosphere prevails in Pakistani society.
Muharram in Pakistan: from the symbolic ceremony of “Zul-Janah” to the ship “Safina Al-Najat”
“Mourning” in Imam Bargah
Pakistani Shiites keep alive the memory of Imam Hussain’s uprising. Breastfeeding ceremony is held in Pakistan which is called “mourning”. This ceremony is usually held in places called Imam Bargah, which is almost equivalent to Hasina in Iran and Iraq. The largest presence of Shiites is in the southern regions of Pakistan and cities such as Karachi and Rawalpindi. The ceremony of carrying ta’zia (carrying a replica of the martyrs of Karbala and the shrine of Imam Hussain (AS)) is also held in different regions of Pakistan.
Hosseinieh of Iranians in Pakistan
In the city of Karachi, Pakistan, there is a Hosseinieh named after the Iranians, and Iranians have a strong presence in this Hosseinieh to mourn the month of Muharram. This Hosseinieh was established by some Yazidis living in Pakistan and it has a long history, usually on the days of Ashura and Tasu’a, a large crowd goes to this Hosseinieh in the form of wearing chests and chains.