Rest of South India

The festival of Muharram in Lakshadweep is celebrated with much zeal and fervor in the Lakshadweep islands. The festival commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussein, who was the grandson of the prophet Mohammed, at Karbala in Iraq. The people of Shia community bring out colorful tazias that are symbolic of the sparkling tomb of the Martyr's and are carried in mass processions throughout the streets of Lakshadweep.

The Hindu population of Lakshadweep was converted to Islam by Hazrat Ubaidullah of Mecca. The Hazrat came to this island land after his ship wrecked while he was out on his mission to propagate Islam. After fierce oppositions he

finally succeeded and today 93% of the inhabitants of Lakshadweep are Muslims as per the census of 1991.Naturally enough the Islamic festivals are celebrated in grand scale in this island district located in the south west of India.

The tazias of Muharram in Lakshadweep are noteworthy for their splendor. A tradition peculiar to Muharram is people beating their chest to mourning the grave incident. With the increasing beats of the drums they fervently chant 'Ya Hussain'. Inflicting wounds on their own bodies with sharp metal chain is considered as a mark of repentance in this festival. The whole of Lakshadweep celebrates Muharram from the first day of the first Islamic month of Muharram ul Haram and lasts for 10 days until the 10th day of Muharram. Black clothes are worn by the Muslims while celebrating Muharram in Lakshadweep as a symbol of mourning and the processions are marked by wails and lamentations.