Dr.Mazhar Naqvi
His name is Rakesh. He has been
preparing ‘Budhiya Wala Tazia’ for the past one decade.He is rersident of
Makanpur Sharif, the headquarters of Madariya Sufi order and one of the oldest
centers of Taziadari in India. Under his influence, several other Hindu
families have started taking part in the Muharram ceremonies. His first cousin
Ram Kali who is settled in Farrukhabad district, comes to Makanpur, about 65
Kms from Kanpur City, every Muharram and had got renovated the famous Imam
Chowk known as Topchi.
Rakesh has his house near Imam Chowk
of Mir Syed Hasan, the ex-Zamindar of the area and first cousin of Nawab Mohsin-Ul-Mulk.
He started taking interest in Tazia making from his teenage under the watchful
eyes of his neighbor Shabbu who excels in the art. He considers Shabbu as his Ustad.
On 9th of Muharram, he takes grave like structure made of bamboo
sticks for a bath in the river Ieesan and takes himself bath. Then, he brings
back the structure to be covered with red and green Musallas(Sheets made of
silk and richly ornamented).He keeps his head covered while preparing Tazia. He
ensured thattazia is prepared on time as Makanpur has the tradition of keeping
Tazias at Imam Chowks at specified time
and even delay by few seconds is considered as a bad omen. A cracker is burst
to herald that Tazia is ready and a few minutes later, the relic goes to imam
Chowk to the beating of drums. At chowk, Rakesh made offerings to Tazia on behalf
of devotees. In a personal interview, Rakesh told the blogger that he awaits Muharram
throughout the year. Preparation of Tazia gives him peace and he claims to have
full knowledge of Karbala’s history.
He said “my parents also used to show
great respect to Tazia but never prepared it." He too was apprehensive as to
whether he will be allowed to prepare Tazia or not? However, when he expressed
his willingness, everyone welcomed him. Since then, he has remained associated Muharram
ceremonies. Ram Kali who was childless prayed for a son before Tazia on the suggestion
of Rakesh and she got her wish granted in a year. As thanksgiving, she offered Musalla
and also got renovated imam Chowk. The other members of Dalit families also
join now in Muharram procession and even carry Tazia on their shoulders.
Makanpur is land of religious
tolerance. Hindus and Muslims hold in high esteem Hazrat Badi Uddin Zinda Shah
Madar ,a 15th century Sufi who had chosen the village as his last
resting place. It was he who had started Taziadari during Sharqi period. The
villagers offer eatables to devotees for two days and the Hindus also run
Langar for vegetarian devotees. Anmol Gupta is one such Hindu. He suspends his
business during Muharram and prepared puris himself. His little sons also help him.
Nirmal Gupta,Manoj Gupta, Shivam, Anil, Ram Asrey and sons of Shri Kishan Gupta
also dole out money generously for Langar.
Shri Kishan Gupta was a poet who also
wrote nauhas. One of his Nauhas is still recited by Anjuman-E-Jafaria.He was
fluent in Persian and Urdu and learnt the art of Nauha writing from Adeeb
Makanpuri,the best known poet Makanpur has ever produced. Shabeen Adeeb ,the internationally
acclaimed poetess, is also disciple of Adeeb Sahib.
Source:Personal observation and talks
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