Muharram at Kichaucha Sharif Dargah

Tazia of Kichaucha Sharif

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

Observance of Muharram ceremonies at the shrine of popular Sufi saint Hazrat Ashraf Jahangeer Samnani at Kichaucha Sharif has traditionally been a grand affair. Devotees have been converging in large number to attend these ceremonies for the past over 6 centuries. Located in Ambedkar Nagar district of India’s most populous Uttar Pradesh state, Kichaucha start witnessing arrival of devotees from ‘Chand Raat’(Sighting of Muharram moon) but their number swell in lakhs from 3^rd day of Muharram month when an 8- day long fair begins with solemnity to offer tributes to martyrs of Karbala. By the time Yaum-e-Ashura 910^th day of Muharram) arrives, one can’t find even an inch of empty place in and around the shrine in the wake of an estimated crowd of 8 to 10 lakhs. All of them participate in Badi Tazia procession that is taken out on 9^th of Muharram from Dargah and buried at Neer Sharif(water reservoir) with agar on Yaum-e-Ashura after passing through its traditional routes. Tazias of adjoining and neighboring places also join the main procession for their burial at Neer Sharif. The most unique feature of Badi Tazia is its preparation exclusively with the ‘Chadars’(Coverings) offered at the holy grave of the saint. It looks more as a coffin instead of Tazia usually made of bamboo sticks and paper.

Dargah of Sufi Saint Hazrat Ashraf Jahangeer Samnani 

Sajjada Nasheen of the shrine Janab Mazhar Uddin sahib told the blogger during his recent visit to Kichaucha that all the ceremonies have remained unchanged and their original character remains intact. During Muharram, every night alams, nishans and relics preserved at Dargah are taken out in the form of processions and large crowd of devotees have glimpse of them. Processions start from dargah and culminate at €salami gate after making stop over at Malang gate.It is also stated that the first Alam on Indian soil was taken out by the saint himself after he settled down in Kichaucha.The saint  Hazrat Makhdoom Sultan Syed Ashraf Jahangir Samnani - 1386 CE) was a great Sufi.He was the disciple of Bengal's prominent Sufi  Hazrat  Alal Haq Pandvi.  His Urs (death anniversary) is commemorated on 28th of the Islamic month of Muharram.(References available on request.Photo courtesy Google Images)