Hindu Mourners of Muslim Imam In Pakistan

Hindu Devotees Before Tazia  In Pakistan

Dr.Mazhar Naqvi

In a Hindu majority town of Mithi in Sindh province of Pakistan, a rare case of interfaith harmony is observed during Muharram. In Mithi where Hindus fast in Ramzan, Muslims don’t slaughter cows and no temple bells ring during Azan . The Hindus share the same love for the Ahlebait (family of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as the Muslims and honor the sacrifice made by Hazrat Imam Hussain for the humanity. A large number of Hindu women make religious offerings and lights incense at the local Imambargah on ‘Yaume Ashura’ every year.

The Hindu community in Sindh has always held a strong belief towards inter-religious harmony and they have a special reverence for Hazrat Imam Hussain  and the martyrs of Karbala.” He said that in respect of Muharram, the Hindu community does not celebrate any of their religious or cultural events and many do not even play music at their homes or temples.

Majority of them recall that as far as they could remember ever since their childhood days, on every 9th of Muharram the elders of the family  took them to a household of a Hindu family who organized majlis and where Hindus and Muslims came together to remember and honor the sacrifice made by Hazrat Imam Hussain. Sabeels and Niyaz of Muharram are regularly arranged by the local Hindus of Mithi and many Hindus actively take part in the majalis too. Hindu youth enthusiastically supervise the security of the Muharram processions and many wear black shalwar kameez in religious observance. Many Hindu women tie ‘mannat ka dhaagah’ [threads of sacred vow] and touch the foreheads of their newly born against the passing Tazia so that they can be protected from the shadow of the devil. While others who aren’t able to bear a child pray towards the Tazia so that they can embrace motherhood.

A few years ago when Pakistan was under the grip of sectarianism, the security forces  tried to discourage the Hindus from attending the Muharram processions, but they could not succeed as  Muslims protested and ensured continuation of the participation  of the Hindus in the Muharram rites as usual.

Almost every Hindu of the area has memorized the Urdu poetry of a Hindu Brahmin poetess Devi Roop Kumari, who shared her love of Hazrat Imam Hussain  in the  verse “Main sun kay dastan-e-Karbala, main toh Hindu he rahey, aankhein Hussaini ho gaye” (After listening to the story of the holy sacrifice at Karbala, even though I stayed Hindu but my tearful eyes turned to Hussain).

(Based on Input and Picture Courtesy-The Express Tribune)