Mahmudabad and Zaidpur- Prominent Centers of Azadari in India

 A view of 8^th Rabi –Ul-Awwal Procession of Anjuman—Haideri ,Mahmudabad

 By Dr..Mazhar Naqvi

Zaidpur and Mahmudabad, two former Taluqas (princely states) of British India, deserve to be categorized as leading centers of commencement and culmination of world famous Muharram ceremonies   in Awadh region of India. While Zaidpur is known for its splendid 28 Rajab procession that commemorates the departure of Imam Husain and his companions from Medina, Mahmudabad surpasses in terms of grandeur and popularity for its 8^th Rabi-Ul-Awwal procession in memory of Imam Hasan Askari ‘s martyrdom and also symbolizing the culmination of Mausam-e-Aza.    

Nowhere else in India, the departure of Imam Husain from, his beloved Medina is depicted in a sad and somber atmosphere as is witnessed in Zaidpur on 28^th Rajab. The moment procession originates it appears as if history is being recreated with ‘Amaris’ on camels proceedings with  beating of large drums announcing  the departure of Imam from Medina. So meticulously, the procession is planned that it amply gives satisfaction to the large crowd of devotees having been a witness of the actual departure of imam from the city of his grand- father Prophet Hazrat Muhammad. Apart from insignias, food grains and water is also loaded on Camels to give a complete look of the caravan of Imam Husain. All the Amaris are carefully covered to display the strict adherence to purdah by the household of Imam and who were paraded bareheaded in the streets of Kufa and Damascus after the martyrdom of Mazloom Husain.

  

 

Zanjeeri Matam in Safar-E-Imam Husain Juloos( 28 Rajab), Zaidpur

 Zaidpur is a historic town with a number of Imambaras and also known for its azadari during the 68-day long Muharram rituals observed throughout the world now by twelvers of Imami faith. It was established by immigrants from Iran in 1069 A.D. and named after Syed Zaid Shahsawar, son of Syed Abdullah Zar-Baksh who was born and raised in Qum(Iran). He was a scholar with spiritual power to make sky rain gold, giving him his name "Zar-Baksh", means the "one who gives gold". Zar-Baksh was a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter, Bibi Fatima  and her husband, Hazrat Ali. Since its inception, Zaidpur has been hosts to many Syed families such as Zaidis, Rizvis and Taqvis. Its last Taluqedar was Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi who had inherited the taluqa from his father Haji Syed Mohammad Askari. At the time of partition, Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi who was a Brigadier in Her Majesty's Royal Indian Army surrendered his claim to the taluqa and settled in Pakistan. Due to presence of Syed families, Muharram always dominated the local culture and its grandeur has not diminished with the passage of time or by abolition of zamindari.

Sarkar e Husaini, a historical Imambara with unique architectural features, dates back to 1906.It was established by Taeed Husain and his brothers in memory of Karbala martyrs. Its commissioning is derived from a misra of an Urdu couplet i.e. "Tazia Khana ye hai ek zindae javed ka". It remains the focal point of mourning congregations held on regular basis through out the Mourning period. The town also boasts of several other Imambaras built by eminent personalities like Mir Jafar, Ashraf Ali, Ainul Husain, Mir Rafiq Husain, Hasan Askari and Sanju Marhoom. A number of Imambaras have been recently renovated after becoming dilapidated due to migration of their patrons at the time of partition.

Compared to Zaidpur, Mahmudabad was a much larger state. It was founded in 1677 by Raja Mahmud Khan and contains an Imambara as a part of the fort built on a 20-acre complex called Qila. The Imambara serves as a significant center of azadari and famous procession of 8^th Rabi-Ul-Awwal also originates from here with full glory as the Local raja also takes active part in observance of all rituals in the conventional manner. It is the traditional venue of many Majlises and processions. The biggest attraction of 8^th Rabi Ul-Awwal procession remains Zuljana( Horse of Imam Husain) that starts running after reaching Dargah Hazrat Abbas and stops at the shrine of Imam Husain which is about half kilo meter away from Alambardar’s rauza. The miracle associated with Zuljana is believed to be 300 years old and its authenticity has been established beyond the shadow of any reasonable doubt whenever someone attempted to prove the automatic running of Zuljana as a fake one. People show great respect to Zuljana and it is used only for the procession. It is very expensive and its genealogy has been maintained. Nobody rides Zuljana and raja Mahmudabad takes interest in its proper upkeep throughout the year.

 

 Devotees in large number attending 8th Rabi Ul-Awwal Procession in Mahmudabad

 The popularity of procession reached at its zenith when the government clamped ban on all azadari processions in Lucknow and people strived to make up for the loss my converging at Mahmudabad in large number to witness the Zuljana miracle and 8^th Rabi -Ul-Awwal procession with  regal touch and richly embroidered relics like Zari, alams, phareras and ornamentation of Zuljana. The pattern of the procession has not changed over the centuries and all the rituals are observed in accordance with the customs and traditions introduced since the beginning of the procession.       

 The Imambara as well as Qila is an example of Awadh architecture at its best. It also played an important role during 1857 and Begum Hazrat Mahal had stayed here after her defeat on way to Kathmandu where she lies buried. The British had destroyed the fort as revenge but it was reconstructed immediately after its release with the usage of original plinth.(References Available on Request)