Muharram Ritual- Nishan-E-Paik

Badi Karbala,Kanpur where Paikis assemble in Thousands  

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Nishan-e-Paik, a ritual introduced by Bihari Muslims in Kanpur, is now one of the most unique features of Muharram ceremonies in India. The Nishan is an Alam and it is taken out by young boys called Paikis during the last five days of the first ten days of Muharram (Ashra) in Kanpur. One can see thousands of Paikis sprinting through the streets of old Kanpur from 5^th day of Muharram onwards. Holding the richly decorated Alam and dressed in Kurta- Paijama, with ropes and bells strung between their Back and shoulders, Paikis visit Imambaras, Karbalas and Imam Chowks, shouting Ya Hussain, Ya Hussain. Mostly between six and eighteen years, Paikis are mostly those boys whose families had taken vowing to make their child or even children as Paik during Muharram each year if their wish was fulfilled.   The history of Paikis dates back to the arrival of Bihari Muslims in Kanpur as migrant workers in Jute and Textile Mills. After settling down in Kanpur, they also began observing Muharram in tune with what they used to do in the villages of Bihar. When they left Bihar in search of employment in cities like Kolkata, Dhaka and Kanpur, they introduced the ritual of Nishan-e-Paik in all three cities. Till partition Paikis and their Nishan remained the most- sought-after attraction of Muharram in all the three cities. Their number reduced considerably in Kolkata and Dhaka after 1947 but swelled in Kanpur amazingly. Paikis become visible in Kanpur after their ‘Kamar Bandhai’ by their caliph in Keelwala Hata. The ritual refers to tying of back with ropes and bells after Fatiha(Short Prayer) in the Imambara of Hata. Then,Paikis start roaming on the streets and spend their time in visiting Imambaras and Karbalas.

On 9^th Muharram (Shab-E-Ashur), they visit Imam Chowks for Ziarat of Tazias placed on them in localities like Hira Man Ka Purwa, Patkapur, Gwaltoli, Beconganj, Colonelganj, Parade, Coolie Bazar and Chamanganj. They also visit Badi Karbala in Nawabganj area to retrieve ’Niyamat’(Bottle containing Milk) from the stream of Ganga river. The milk is distributed among the Paiks. Additional milk is mixed with that of Niyamat so that every Paik gets it. The retrieval of Niyamat is treated as a miracle that takes place every year. No one has so far been able to find out how the leader of Paikis retrieve the bottle buried deep in the river water. How he correctly identifies the spot where the bottle was buried the previous year also remains a mystery as the river keeps changing its course and no indicator is placed. Paikis consider the retrieval of Niyamat as the blessings of Imam Hussain’s daughter Janab-e-Sughra who was left in Medina. Paikis call themselves as Qasid (Messenger)-e-Karbala and run for five consecutive days as a remembrance of those messengers who had sprinted from Karbala to Medina to inform Janab-e-Sughra about the martyrdom of her father. Till they remain dress up as Paikis, they neither eat nor sleep. They don’t take even shower and survive on the offerings given at Imambaras and food offered by others. During their visit to Imambara and Imam Chowks, they also visit places of those devotees who invite them with their Nishan. The entire Parade ground where they assemble before proceeding to Karbala appears to be an ocean of colorfully attired Paikis with their ringing bells. As they run in thousands, the district authorities also remain on tenterhook till Yaum-e-Ashura. Hundreds of policemen and officers are deployed to monitor the sprinting of Paikis.The ritual is surely now the only of its kind in India by Sunni Muslims. Nowhere else Paikis are found on streets during Muharram. It is now considered to be the prerogative of Kanpur and no one knows even that the ritual was initiated by Bihari Muslims. (References available on request)