Chehlum in Amroha

Chehlum

arbaeen

Chehlum, commonly known as Arbaeen is the day when the captive of Karbala who were taken to Damascus and Imprisoned, after their release, made a return to Karbala to cry on their loved ones. Chehlum is an Arabic word for the fortieth day. Generally there is mourning of forty days after the death of a family member but because the family of Imam Hussain could even cry and express their grief as Yazid’s army did not allowed anyone to cry, after getting released they returned to Karbala and expressed their emotions and cried on the graves of their loved ones. Imam Hussain’s sister Hazrat Zainab, who took the responsibilities after Imam Hussain’s martyrdom and bravely faced all the difficulties broke out in tears. They remembered Hazart Sakina, Imam Hussain’s 4 years old daughter who could not cope with the difficulties of imprisonment and died inside the prison. Imam Zain-ul-Abedeen cried the rest of his life remembering the tragedy. He lived under pressure and tight surveillance set by rulers. According to legend, for twenty years whenever water was placed before him, he would weep. People from all over the world make pilgrimage to Imam Hussain shrine in Iraq and walk from Basra to Imam Hussain shrine in Karbala. Imam Hussain’s companion Jabir ibne Abullah made the first pilgrimage after his martyrdom.

Chehlum

Chehlum, commonly known as Arbaeen is the day when the captive of Karbala who were taken to Damascus and Imprisoned, after their release, made a return to Karbala to cry on their loved ones. Chehlum is an Arabic word for the fortieth day. Generally there is mourning of forty days after the death of a family member but because the family of Imam Hussain could even cry and express their grief as Yazid’s army did not allowed anyone to cry, after getting released they returned to Karbala and expressed their emotions and cried on the graves of their loved ones. Imam Hussain’s sister Hazrat Zainab, who took the responsibilities after Imam Hussain’s martyrdom and bravely faced all the difficulties broke out in tears. They remembered Hazart Sakina, Imam Hussain’s 4 years old daughter who could not cope with the difficulties of imprisonment and died inside the prison. Imam Zain-ul-Abedeen cried the rest of his life remembering the tragedy. He lived under pressure and tight surveillance set by rulers. According to legend, for twenty years whenever water was placed before him, he would weep. People from all over the world make pilgrimage to Imam Hussain shrine in Iraq and walk from Basra to Imam Hussain shrine in Karbala. Imam Hussain’s companion Jabir ibne Abullah made the first pilgrimage after his martyrdom.

arbaeen

Arba'een Pilgrimage

Arbaeen_pilgrimage_walk_018

Arba'een Pilgrimage

The Arbaʽeen Pilgrimage, or the Arbaʽeen Walk, is the world’s largest annual public gathering that is held every year in Karbala, Iraq on of the fortieth day of the mourning period following Ashura, Anticipating Arbaʽeen, or the fortieth day of the martyrdom, the pilgrims make their journey to Karbala on foot, As of 2016 “between 17 million and 20 million” pilgrims usually attend Arbaʽeen there, including about three million foreigners, The number of participants in the annual pilgrimage reached 25 million or more by 2016. On the routes of the pilgrimage, food, accommodation and other services are provided for free by volunteers. Imam Hussain is believed to transcend all cultural boundaries and be a symbol of universal freedom and compassion.

Arbaʽeen is consistently among the largest peaceful gatherings in history. Every year, huge crowds of pilgrims travel to the city of Karbala in pilgrimage to the Imam Hossein holy shrine in Karbala on Arbaʽeen Day. (For example, it is over 500 km from Basra the largest city in southern Iraq where Shia predominate to Karbala.). It is traveled annually on foot, which takes them two weeks, or approximately one month to come from other countries like Iran. The crowds become so massive that roads are blocked for hundreds of miles.

The Arbaʽeen Pilgrimage, or the Arbaʽeen Walk, is the world’s largest annual public gathering that is held every year in Karbala, Iraq on of the fortieth day of the mourning period following Ashura, Anticipating Arbaʽeen, or the fortieth day of the martyrdom, the pilgrims make their journey to Karbala on foot, As of 2016 “between 17 million and 20 million” pilgrims usually attend Arbaʽeen there, including about three million foreigners, The number of participants in the annual pilgrimage reached 25 million or more by 2016. On the routes of the pilgrimage, food, accommodation and other services are provided for free by volunteers. Imam Hussain is believed to transcend all cultural boundaries and be a symbol of universal freedom and compassion.

Arbaʽeen is consistently among the largest peaceful gatherings in history. Every year, huge crowds of pilgrims travel to the city of Karbala in pilgrimage to the Imam Hossein holy shrine in Karbala on Arbaʽeen Day. (For example, it is over 500 km from Basra the largest city in southern Iraq where Shia predominate to Karbala.). It is traveled annually on foot, which takes them two weeks, or approximately one month to come from other countries like Iran. The crowds become so massive that roads are blocked for hundreds of miles.

Chehlum in Amroha

In Amroha Chehlum starts with Majlis and Matam. From the eve of 20th Safar( the 2nd month of Islamic calendar ) people gather inside Imambaras and remember and commemorate Imam Hussain and the captives of Karbala who returned after facing difficulties and imprisonment for years. They recite Nauhas( lament about the tragedy ) and do Matam( beating chest in grief ) whole night. The day of Arbaeen Starts with processions. One procession starts from Danishmandan street and goes to a local Karbala situated nearby as everyone cannot go to Iraq every year, a small Karbala is made, with replica of shrine of Imam Hussain, for people. Another procession starts from Baghla street, begins with a special Marsiya( elegy poem ) ” Qaid se chhoot ke Jab Sayyad-e-Sajjad aye” meaning ‘When Imam Sajjad came after release from Imprisonment’. This Marsiya has a great significance and it is recited at different spots along with the procession from beginning the end. The procession Includes Tazia( replicas of shrine of Imam Hussain ) and people reciting Nauhas and one of the most significant is  ‘ Chehlum karne ayi hai ye teri maajayi bhai ” meaning ‘ your sister has come to do your chehlum’. People also do Zanjeer Zani( hitting themselves with chain and blades in greif ). After reaching Lakra street’s local Karbala another significant Marsiya is recited ” Chehlum Jo Karbala main bahattar ka ho chuka ” meaning when chehlum of the 72 martyrs happened in Karbala’. This culture and this attachment from Karbala seems to never end.

Juloos

Marsiya

Nauha

Juloos

Marsiya

Nauha

Juloos of Chehlum

Procession of Chehlum

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The Juloos of Chehlum starts from different places. One of the processions starts from Danishmandan street and ends in Danishmandan street’s local Karbala. The other starts from Baghla street with the Marsiya ‘Qaid se chhoot ke jab Sayyad-e-Sajjad aye’. The Marsiya was written written by Chunnu Lal Dilgeer and consist of 60 Bandh( sestets ) and ends in the local Karbala of Lakra street after traveling inside the city. This Marsiya is recited in parts, at different streets during the whole procession. The procession majorly consist of Tazia( replica of shrine of Imam Hussain ) and some Alams. People recite Nauhas during the processison and do Matam and Zanjeer zani( hitting themselves with chain and blades ) all the way long. There are some popular Nauhas which are recited during the processions, some of which are “Chehlum karne aayi hai, ye teri maajayi bhai’ and ‘Tha khaak par pada hua lasha Hussain ka’. The Tazias contains Turbat( coffin of Imam Hussain ) inside it which are buried after reaching the local Karbala of Lakra street. Tazia are made in all sizes, some are big and some are small. One or more Tazias from every street joins the procession as it passes. On reaching the local karbala, the Marsiya ” Chehlum jo Karbala main Bahattar ka ho Chuka’ is recited. Then people also recite some Nauhas.

Live Webcast of Chehlum Juloos

Shab Bedari

Night of Wakefullness

Shab Bedari is the set of all the activities of commemoration  and condolence done in night. The eve of 20th Safar starts with Shab Bedari. Mourners gather in the Azakhans or Imambaras, do Majalis, recite Nauhas and do Matam( beat their chest in greif). There are two major streets in Amroha where Shab Bedari takes place, namely Guzri street and Darbar-e-Kalan street. In Guzri first, Shab Bedari continues till the Fajr time( the time of morning prayer, which starts from the second dawn) and at the time of dawn Taboot( coffin of Imam Hussain ) is brought out on shoulders by mourners. While in Darbar-e-Kalan, first the Taboot is brought out on shoulders and then Shab Bedari starts till Fajr. There are Anjumans( organiszation ) which generally is made my people of the streets for mourning which goes in different Azakhanas, recite nauhas and do Matam. All the Nauhas recited are generally related to the events that the captives faced during their journey to Damascus, events inside prison or meeting of the families and martyrs when they arrived in Karbala.

Live Webcast of Shab Bedari