Hundreds of thousands mark Tasu’aa Day, Ashoura Night in Karbala

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Marking Tasu’a day (9th Muharram) and the Ashoura night (night before the Ashoura Day), the atmosphere in Iraq particularly in the holy city of Karbala was very grieved on Friday and sky over the holy shrines was red in color, while violence on the day left more than two-dozen Husseini mourners martyred.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees have converged on this holy city for the universal mourning ritual known as Ashoura, beating and slashing their bodies and wailing to signify their deep grief over the martyrdom of Chief of Martyrs Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p), the tragedy which caused the sky to rain blood and the earth to bleed.

Walls and shops here are plastered with black banners.
 
In Baghdad on Friday, terrorists set off explosions aimed at Husseini mourners in two husseiniyaat and a mourning procession.
 
Last year during Ashoura, 271 Husseini mourners were martyred when terror blasts ripped through main mourning ceremonies at holy shrines in Kazmayn and Karbala.

This year Iraqi security forces have stepped up security, including closing the country's borders beginning Friday. Iraqi police and National Guard troops have set up barricades on the main roads to prevent vehicles from entering Karbala and armed security teams were scattered all over the city.
 
A security official in Karbala Bakr al-Ghanimi told the Associated Press that three Saudis and two Iraqis were recently arrested while in possession of weapons, mortars and explosives.
 
“The Saudis confessed that they forged passports to enter Iraq and came to Karbala to strike the city during Ashoura,” Al-Ghanimi said.

But the security measures have also dissuaded hundreds of thousands of people from making the pilgrimage this year, leading to a dramatic drop in attendance.

Throughout the Tasu’a day, mourning processions attended by flocks of mourners, dressed in black for mourning and holding aloft green banners bearing the name Hussein (p), filled the streets of this holy city chanting Ya Hussein, Ya Hussein, while they spent the whole night of Ashoura in mourning for Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) extending condolences to the holy family of Chief of Prophets Prophet Muhammad (p).

Ashoura marks the tenth day of Muharram when some 1,400 years ago Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p), the grandson of holy Prophet Muhammad (p), along with his 72 rightful companions was unlawfully slaughtered in the burning desert of Karbala at the hands of Yazid bin Mu’awiyah (l) in defense of religion and shariah, and protection of human dignity.
 
Specials meals and drinks are being prepared in giant pots to be served to the Husseini mourners. 

Husseini commemoration in Karbala on acme as Ashura nears HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Love for Al-Imam Al-Hussein (p) exists in every conscious heart according to a saying of Holy Prophet (p), and display of love for him particularly on the day of Ashura reminds everyone the great sacrifices rendered by him in the burning plain of Karbala for Allah and His religion as his sacrifices are the brightest example of deepest love and sacrifice in the way of beloved. His grief is still alive and fresh despite a considerable passage of 1,400 years.