Photograph of a Muharram procession in Hyderabad, Andrea Pradesh, taken by Deen Dayal in the 1880s. This is part of the Curzon Collection: 'Views of HH the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad, Deccan, 1892'. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calender and is often called the Muslim 'Month of Mourning'. It commemorates the martydom of the saint Imam Husain, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. Lavishly decorated tazivas (bamboo and paper replicas of the martyr’s tomb) are carried through the streets. Mourners beat their breasts accompanied by musicians, dancers and wrestlers. Scenes are enacted of the battle at Karbala where Imam Husain was martyred in 61 AH/680 AD. Husain is the third Shi'ite Imam and is greatly revered by Shi'ites and Sunnis alike.
