Hindus pay homage to Karbala martyrs on Muharram eve
PTI | 04:12 PM,Dec 04,2011Banda (UP), Dec 4 (PTI) In this backward Uttar Pradesh town, Hindus join their Muslim brothers in paying homage to the martyrs of Karbala on the occasion of Muharrum. This unique tradition, bringing the two religious communities together in praying, started about 260 years ago with a Maratha setting up "Ramji Ka Imambara" at the Gulab Bagh road in Aliganj locality here. While the Muslims recite "fateha" before the "tazias" installed at the Imambara during this month, their fellow Hindu devouts pray before the "dhaal, naal and alams" identified with Muharrum. Devouts of both the religions pray under one roof, setting a rare example of communal amity and brotherhood. Five generations of the Marathi family, who had set up this imambara, have been personally taking part in observing Muharrum and they converge here on this occasion every year. 71-year-old Basant Raj Samant, an advocate by profession, representing the fourth generation of the family, said that ever since 1750 this tradition has been kept alive by them and he too makes it a point to come here from Pune every year. Now the next generation, represented by his son Yashwant Raj, has taken over the responsibility to keep the tradition going, he said. According to Samant, this practice was started when the successor of Peshwa Bajirao (first), Balaji Bajirao sent Ali Bahadur (first) in 1750 as the Nawab of Banda. Ali Bahadur was accompanied by Maratha Thakur Ramji, who set up the "Ramji Ka Imambara" starting this tradition, he said. Summing up the intention behind this tradition, he said that both "Ishwar" and "Allah" do not want to divide people in the name of religion. Humans should have a strong bonding with humanity whether they opt for praying before the almighty through the means of "Puja" or "Ibadat", he added.
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