Muslims across India and the world observe today as the Day of Ashura. This is the tenth day of Muharram, a period of prayer, mourning and introspection, depending on one’s sect within Islam.
The day is observed differently by the Shia and Sunni sects of Islam. For Shia Muslims, the day commemorates the martyrdom of Sheikh Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the battle of Karbala.
Hussain was massacred along with his whole family, and the day is remembered with great sorrow and mourning by the Shias. The people of this sect take out ‘Taazia’ processions with ritulistic self flaggilation, denoting their shame and sorrow at not being there to help Hussain.
For Sunni Muslims, however, the day is referred as the Day of Atonement, a day when the Pharoh freed the Israelites.
