Hyderabad Police Commissioner: Perform Muharram mourning rituals at home bcz of Coronavirus

HYDERABAD, India - AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): In the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar on Monday urged people to perform Muharram mourning rituals and Hindu Ganesh Chaturthi at home.

Notably, the Union Home Ministry has banned religious gatherings under the COVID-19 guidelines. Due to this, Hyderabad may miss the traditional 'Bibi Ka Alam' procession for the first time in over 400 years.

Taking to Twitter, Kumar said: “Protect your family against Covid 19. Do Maatam of Muharram at home. Similarly all Ganesh puja has to be done at home. No Idol installation  or any event will be held at public places as directed by Government. Keep yourself and the city safe .”

Ahlbeit Shia community leaders and public representatives in Hyderabad have appealed to the Telangana government to give its nod for the procession, yet the authorities are unlikely to give permission for the annual procession, which is usually attended by thousands of people.

The procession, which marks the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Imam Hussain in the battle of Karbala, is held on 'Youm-e-Ashoora' or the 10th day of Muharram, which may fall on August 30 (depending on the Moon sighting).

Last week, the All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) had issued a 14-point advisory, urging people to follow social distancing norms, wear masks and wherever possible, participate in Muharram rituals online. As per clerics, the advisory was issued ad per the guidelines by ayatollahs from Iraq and Iran.

This year, Muharram begins on August 20 and ends on September 18.

With over 2,00,000 Shias, Hyderabad has the second-largest Shia community in India, after Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow.

The upcoming festival of Ganesh Chaturthi (scheduled to be held on August 22) will also not be celebrated with usual pomp in view of the coronavirus pandemic.


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