Muharram- What do Sunnis do?
We start with the stance of Sunnis on the battle of Karbala, Yazid and Imam Hussain.
Before we proceed, here are the links to the previous episodes
Part 1 - Muharram for Shias or Sunnis?
• Muharram for Shias or Sunnis? - Part 1
Part 2 - Muharram - What do Shias do?
• Muharram- what do Shias do?
Though the Sunnis revere Hussain and consider Yazid as a deviant Muslim, they acknowledge Yazid as a Caliph. They also refuse to accept that the Karbala battle was a self-sacrifice of Hussain for the cause of Islam. They in fact consider the entire tragedy a consequence of Hussain's reckless decision in his quest to become Caliph. And finally Sunnid believe that Islam doesn't give permission to mourn the dead for so long.
But Muharram is a holy month for Sunnis for an altogether different reason. Muharram is a sacred month for all Muslims since it marks Prophet Muhammed's migration or Hijr from Mecca to Medina. There are three more incidences associated with this day
1) On the 10th of Muharram, God rescued Moses and his people from the Pharaoh. On entering Madina when Prophet Muhammad saw the Jews fasting, he decided to follow this practice because Moses is a prophet in Islam too. So the Sunnis fast and consider it a day of atonement for the sins of the previous year.
2) It is believed that God created Adam on this day
3) Noah's arc landed on dry land on this day and humanity was saved.
However, this is the official Sunni position on Muharram. Things are completely different on the ground. Due to the absence of a theological central leadership among Sunnis, they have developed a variety of local customs and traditions. The most vibrant Muharram traditions of Sunnis are observed in India where it is heavily influenced by Shia traditions and Hindu festivals.
Replicas of mausoleums of Karbala martyrs are made and taken out in a procession on Ashura. These replicas are called Tazias. Drums is the most prominent sound of Sunni Muharram.
In Uttar Pradesh, you see glimpses of the pagan origin of Islam. In western India, adults and children are painted as Tigers and a Tiger dance is performed during Muharram
It is believed that the Tiger wards off evil spirits. Tiger man is another influence of the Ganesha festival and is around since medieval times.
Sunnis celebrate Zuljanah, Hussain's horse by making its replicas. The most famous horse idols are made and paraded in Ujjain in central India.
Imam Hussain had 2 more horses named Duldul and Aukab. The horse idols of Ujjain are called Duldul.
Different trade guilds own and manage different horses. The guild of glass bangle makers owns a horse decorated with glass while the guild at the red light area manages the winged horse of Prophet Muhammed, named Buraq, which he rode on the night of Miraj.
The biggest horse is called Bade Sahab where people of all religions come for wish fulfilments, called Mannat. We interview Shabnam Ali from Bade Sahab's caretaker family. The 7th Muharram is observed as the Mahendi (Hina) Night at Bade Sahab.
The orthodox/Puritan Wahabis and the reformist Tablighis strictly denounce these Tazia and Drum traditions. But there are voices that defend it too.
Credits:
A lot of Ujjain Muharram footage is borrowed from the Youtube channel
Spark.. Enlighting Life
/ @spark..enlightinglife3473
Thanks to Aasim and Aman who shot it with great efforts.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:30 Sunni stance on Imam Hussain, Yazid and the tragedy of Karbala
02:04 Sunni view on Muharram Mourning
02:17 Muharram's significance for Sunnis for Prophet's hijra
02:48 On 10th Muharram, God saved Moses and Jews from the Pharao by parting the Red Sea. Sunnis fast on Ashura
03:17 God created Adam and Noah's arc found dry land on this day
03:32 Intro to Sunni Muharram traditions
03:59 Sunni Muharram traditions in India is inspired by Shia traditions and Hindu Festivals
04:16 Tazias, the replicas of mausoleums of Karbala Martyrs
04:45 Tazia procession of Ashura and immersion in rivers. On lines of Ganesh festival.
05:16 Pagan practices of dangerous stunts during Muharram in Uttar Pradesh
05:28 Tiger man and tiger dance of Muharram in West India
06:09 Zuljanah and making their replicas
06:34 Duldul horse idols of Ujjain, India
06:55 Bade Sahab of Ujjain and interview with Shabnam Ali
07:53 Hindu and Muslim ladies visit for wish-fulfillment (mannat) on Mehandi night on 7th of Muharram
08:15 Story behind Mehandi night. Qasim's wedding.
08:53 Festivities at Bade Sahab
09:21 Professional and trade guilds own and manage different horses. The Muslim caste system.
09:50 The glass bangle makers of Lakhedwadi and their horse Kanch ka Duldul of Ujjain
10:28 Communal tensions due to the presence of Kanch ka Duldul at Gopal Mandir
11:22 Guild at the red light area Pinjarwadi of Ujjain and their horse - Buraq
12:10 Prophet Muhammed, Miraj and Buraq
12:25 Criticism of Tazia traditions by Wahabis and Tablighis
12:52 Defense of Tazias
13:11 Conclusion and ending