Ayam-e-Aza Ends With Chup Tazia in Kanpur

Chup Tazia Procession

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Chup(Silent) Tazia procession of Anjuman-e-Panjatani marked the farewell of Ayam-e-Aza in Kanpur today. Perhaps, Kanpur is the only city in the world where Chup Tazia is taken out before 8th Rabi-ul-Awwal-that signals the end of two- month- eight- day long period of mourning for martyrs of Karbala throughout Azadar world. In Kanpur, Chup Tazia procession is taken out on the first Sunday of Rabi-ul-Awwal-the third Islamic month from Imambara Babban Sahib in Colonelganj area. The reason for taking the procession out before 8^th Rabi-ul-Awwal lies in the history of city itself. Kanpur was not even a small village when it became under the control of East India Company. Its development began after the British established a cantonment here and declared it as a district in 1803.

A large number of people arrived from adjoining areas to cater to the needs of British troops stationed at Kanpur. Muslims too arrived and began observing Muharram rituals. But Azadari assumed grandeur and magnificence when Mutmuddaula Bahadur Nawab Agha Meer, the Prime Minister of Awadh dynasty, was banished to Kanpur. He was a great patron of Azadari. Before losing favor of Nawab Naseer-ud-Deen Haider, he had built a magnificent Imambara and Karbala in Lucknow. Agha Meer used to spend lavishly on Muharram rituals in Lucknow. In Kanpur, he too encouraged Azadari on the pattern of Lucknow. After his death, his sons continued patronizing Azadari but did not introduce any procession. They preferred to be in Lucknow after Yaum-e-Ashura and used to observe Chehlum and ‘Aathveen’ (8^th Rabi-ul-Awwal) there itself.

Chehlum procession began in Kanpur after the formation of first Imami Anjuman Moin-ul-Momneen in 1857 in Patkapur locality. Likewise, Chup tazia procession also started around 1875 in Kanpur by Waheedul Hasan Vakeel Sahib. By then, Kanpur Imamis had developed habit of attending ‘Aathveen’ in Lucknow in the absence of procession like Chup tazia in their city. Hence, Hasan Sahib decided to take the procession before 8^th Rabi-ul-Awwal, for he didn’t want Kanpur to be without Chup Tazia . This is how the first Sunday of Rabi-ul-Awwal became the day of Chup tazia procession in Kanpur. Initially, Chup Tazia used to originate from the house of Hasan Sahib near Kaisthana road Crossing but after few years he entrusted Anjuman Panjatani with the responsibility of taking out the procession. Since then, the procession is being taken out from Imambara Babban Saheb before 8^th Rabi-ul-Awwal to enable Momneen to participate in ‘Aathveen’ of Lucknow. The procession passes through its traditional route and culminates at Karbala Nawab Azam Ali Khan near Chunniganj where it ends after a Majlis-e-Aza. No Matam is performed during the procession and only marsiyas are recited. Mourners observe complete silence throughout the route.

Mirza Muhammad Ashfaq Sahib has traditionally been addressing this Majlis for the past few decades.This year too, he addressed the Majlis in presence of thousands of mourners and criticized severely those elements whose anti-Islamic activities tarnished the image of Islam by spreading terror in its name. He reminded mourners that it was the ancestors of such elements who had surrounded Imam Hussain and his companions at Karbala in 680 AD and martyred them with thirst and hunger. Ashfaq Sahib urged mourners to dedicate their lives to propagation of Hussaini message of peace and love for universal brotherhood and said ’ This will be the most befitting tribute to the memory of Karbala martyrs and most appropriate way to bid farewell to Ayam-e-Aza in Kanpur.” 

Imambara Babban Sahib from where Chup Tazia Procession Originates in Kanpur 

It needs to be clarified here that farewell of Ayam-e-Aza before 8^th Rabi-ul-Awwal In Kanpur is purely symbolic in nature and it is done with the sole objective of facilitating Momneen to be on Aathveen in Lucknow which is about 75 kms from Kanpur only. There used to be no procession after Chup Tazia but for the past several years, Anjuman-Ghuncha-e-Raza-e-Islam has introduced an ‘Alvidai’(farewell) procession in Hata Nawab Sahib on the eve of 8^th Rabi-ul-Awwal at grand scale. Like other places, Ayam-e-Aza formally ends on 8^th Rabi-ul-Awwal only. (Article is based on inputs received from the office bearers of Anjuman Panjatani like Javed Naqvi and Musanna Sahib-Photo Courtesy Google Image).