Timur’s rath

In Varanasi, the land of famous ghats and Vedic saints has a mixed tradition of observing Muharram where many Hindu families fast along with their Muslim brethren. Shivala Mohalla of Varanasi boasts of the most artistic tazia (mausoleum-like an artifact). The tazia signifies mourning.

The ritual representation of the tazia resembles that of the effigies burnt on the occasion of Dussehra. Though identical in spirit, the tazia differs from Dussehra effigies in the sense that it is buried while Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna are burnt.

The tazia according to Syed Sibtul Hasan Fazil-e-Haswi, is a contribution from Timur who became a fan of the Indian rath (chariot), the stately carriage drawn by horses with its grand tapering pointed top and lenticular projections. Timur had the relics of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), including a lock of hair, manuscripts of the Quran used by Imam Hussain and Imam Ali and a phial containing earth from the mound under which the mortal remains of Imam Hussain are interned.

These relics were carried with great reverence on a white stallion alongside Timur’s own charger. In fact the first tazia was assembled by Timur about 600 years ago when he thought that these relics would be more reverently borne on a carrier resembling a rath.

After Timur it was the Sufi saints who held on to the tradition of carrying chariots in Muharram processions that got shaped finally into the tazias.

Beautiful imambaras (imam’s residence) were erected by the Hindu rulers of Vijayanagar during the 16th and 17th centuries. They even donned blackened garments and helped to arrange the Kala Tazia processions. Even the Scindias of Gwalior and the Holkar Maharajas of Indore held special majlis (Muharram congregations).

Quite rightly, Narayan Das Talib said about Muharram: Hum ne mana musalmano tumharey hein Hussain/Lekin humko yeh kehne do hamare hein Hussain!