Tazia Turbatwala of Makanpur

Turbatwala Tazia of Makanpur


Dr. Mazhar Naqvi

Makanpur, the headquarters of Madariya Sufi order, also has the distinction of bringing out World’s only ‘Turbat Wala’ Tazia on 9^th and 10^th day of Muharram every year. Usually Tazias placed at Imambaras and Chowks are made of paper and bamboo sticks. They are made either on plain and octagonal plan. The skeleton is made of Bamboo Sticks and if required, reinforced with steel also, depending upon the size and height of Tazia. An arched door marks the center of Tazia. Two miniature mazars representing Imam Hasan and Imam Hussain are also placed at the center of the base that is called Takht. Tazias are also made of different materials, like Lead, Brass, Copper, precious stones. Artists use tapering technique to enhance the grandeur and the beauty of Tazias. In drawing the plan, they keep in mind   two basic geometric shapes- the square and the circle. Tazias are usually prepared in cubical form with hollow interior to reduce the weight. Next to the Takht, a supplementary body comprising of four units called manzils or storey’s (shaft),is also erected to provide foundation and height to the super-structure. The top portion of the tazia comprises of palki (palanquin), saiwan (canopy),gumbad (dome) and chand-tara (moon and star).Another element is a row of concave arched niches called mehrabs by the craftsperson. Sometimes calligraphy also features. Most of the tazias are created with two conceptual principles namely ‘jamal (beauty), and 'jalal' (grandeur)'.The art of tazia-making does not reflect any special color preference. There is however always an urge to embellish heavily façade of Tazias with colorful foil, kite-paper and glazing Jhalars. Silver, vibrant magenta, turquoise, red, green, and gold are the mostly favored colors in the preparation of Tazias. There is no prescribed size of Tazias. Factors such as material, affordability, influences of regional architecture, competition among the artists and material determine the size, decoration and height of Tazias. Hence, Tazias of varying sizes i.e. from tiny to monumental are witnessed during Muharram processions.

But Turbat Wala Tazias are prepared in Makanpur entirely different. Their size is prescribed and no paper is used to embellish them. There is neither any Takht nor Manzils. Only use of wood and bamboo stick is common. But wood or sticks are not used to prerpare any Manzil or arch but for preparing Katghari(Square Platform covered with black cloth) and Turbats (Grave like structure).Before placing on Katghari, both the turbats are covered with Musallas offered by those whose wishes are fulfilled as a vow taken before Turbats the year before.These Turbats are covered with Musallas (richly embroidered or printed  Green and Red sheets).Green Turbat represents imam Hasan as he was poisoned while red symbolizes the slaughtering of Imam Hussain in Karbala in Iraq in 680 AD. Instead of Gumbad, a Pagri(turban) is placed at the heads of both Turbats and covered with Sehras(flowers).No effort is made to reduce the weight despite the fact that Tazias become quite heavy as thousands of devotees get their Sehras tied to Pagris from 9^th to the evening of 10^th Muharram. Artists take the work very seriously and consider it sacred. They take bath and  perform ablutions before starting work. These Tazias are cooled in a different way. They are not buried like other Tazia but cooled simply by placing a sheet over them after recital of Fatiha. In Makanpur, the oldest Tazia  is believed to be of Topchi.It was started by a Topchi (Cannon Master of Sharqi Kingdom.The second oldest is known as AhmAd Sher Ka Tazia.The third that also forms part of the procession is taken out from the deori of Mir Syed Hasan and is known as Budhia Wala tazia.Turbat wala Tazias are placed in the courtyard of Dargah,Opposite Chikna Mahal and Rajon Ka Mohalla also but they don't move from Chowk.  side daregah on Imam chowks   Located about 65 kms from Kanpur city, Makanpur also has the sprawling Dargah of Hazrat Badi Uddin Zinda Shah Madar, the founder of Madariya Sufi order in Indian sub-continent. Shah Madar traced his lineage to Imam Jafar Sadiq and his descendants are called Jafris. He ranks among the earliest Sufis to arrive in India and considered as a great preacher of true Islam. His dazzling personality and a life full of piety earned him a large following in India in the 15^th century and he continues to be revered as a great Saint still.