Muharram
மொஹரம் பண்டிகை
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar, marking the beginning of the Islamic New Year. Rather than a joyous festival, it is a solemn period of remembrance, mourning, and fasting, especially commemorating the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Imam Hussain, at the Battle of Karbala.
Observance Dates & Timeline
February 1911 Dates
Times and tithi lines follow the site Panchangam engine for that civil day when data exists.
Spiritual Festival Sequence
Tamil Nadu Spiritual Experience
The Islamic New Year
The sighting of the new moon of Muharram ushers in the Hijri New Year. The Hijri calendar begins from the year Prophet Muhammad migrated (Hijrah) from Mecca to Medina.
Muharram is considered one of the four sacred months in Islam during which warfare is forbidden.
The Tragedy of Karbala
The 10th day of Muharram, known as 'Ashura', is a day of profound grief in Islamic history. On this day in 680 AD, Imam Hussain (the grandson of Prophet Muhammad) and his family were brutally martyred in the desert of Karbala by the army of the tyrant ruler Yazid.
Muslims worldwide remember this unparalleled sacrifice and mourn the loss of those who stood firmly for truth and justice against oppression.
Fasting on Ashura
Many Muslims observe a voluntary fast on the 9th and 10th days of Muharram. Fasting on Ashura is believed to expiate the minor sins of the previous year.
This day also holds significance as the day God saved Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites from the Pharaoh of Egypt, for which Prophet Musa fasted in gratitude.
Observance in Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, the observance of Muharram involves taking out 'Panja' (symbolic hand-shaped metal crests) and carrying out processions in memory of the Karbala martyrs.
Community members organize water stalls and distribute 'Sherbet' (sweet drinks) and food to the poor, symbolizing the thirst Imam Hussain and his family suffered before their martyrdom.