Bohra Mohalla, Dongri, Mumbai, December 2009

Mumbai Muharram, BIT Blocks, MuhammadAli Rd, Dongri, Mumbai, December 2010. [from my archive]

Imameyeh Mosque, Dongri, Mumbai, December 2010 [from my archive].

I surprised to see the crowd on the rooftop on Ashura day. Later I was told that they believe that manasek-e Ashura (the ritual of Ashura day) must been done in an open space, as this mosque doesn't have a courtyard they use the rooftop for the ritual.

 مراسم ظهر عاشورا بر بام مسجد امامیه، محله دونگری، ممبای، دسامبر ۲۰۱۰.ازمیان ‌آرشیوم

 از دیدن جمعیت در پشت بام مسجد متعجب شدم، بعدا به من گفته شد که برخی معتقدند مراسم ظهر عاشورا (شامل خواندن دعای روز عاشورا) باید زیر آسمان و در فضای باز انجام شود چون این مسجد حیاط ندارد، مراسم را بر بام مسجد اجرا میکردند

Imameyeh Mosque, Dongri, Mumbai, India, December 2010

I was surprised when I saw people are doing a ritual on the roof of mosque on Ashura day. Later I’ve been told that they believe manasek-e Ashura (ritual of Ashura day) must been done under sky; as the mosque does not have a courtyard they use the roof.

For Shia-Muslims, the month of Muharram is about commemoration of the tragic martyrdom of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad on Ashura day (10th of Muharrram) in the 7th century. Muharram is the first month of Islamic-lunar calendar.

Spice: Dongri Bazaar, Mumbai, India, April 2010