the Gravestone: Rahmatabad Cemetery, Mazgon, Mumbai, Indian, December 2010

The gravestone of ‘Mohammad Jawad Kashani Rahimi Najafai’; sometimes a gravestone becomes a document; indeed this stone tells a part of the history of Khuja Ithna Asharai community in Mumbai

Khichda: Dongri, Ashura day, December 2010

Khichda is Indian porridge; it is an traditional food made and served during Muharram in Mumbai

کیجدا در واقع نوعی حلیم هندی است و معادل قیمه امام حسین خودمان است در ایام محرم در جای جای بمبئی دیگهای کیجدا
برپا است جالب است که خیلی ها کیجدا را با دست میخورند اثر حرکت انگشتها روی یکی از بشقابها و سینی دیده میشود

Flagellation: a flagellator in the procession of Ashura afternoon, Mumbai, December 2010

Ashura is the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic-lunar calendar. The day is commemorated by Shia-Muslims as the day of martyrdom of the grand-son of Prophet Mohammad in a tragic battle in the 7th century.

Shabih: Amin Imambara, Dongri, Mumbai, December 2010

Iranian community initiated a carnevalisque passion play in Mumbai since the 19th century. The ritual is aimed at representing the passion of the Hussian (the grandson of prophet Mohammad) and his family in the tragic battle of Karbala in the 7th century.

Khichda: Dongri, Mumbai, December 2010

Khichda is Indian porridge; it is an traditional food made and served during Muharram in Mumbai

Taboot: Qaysar Bagh (Kesar Bag), Mumbai, India, December 2009

Taboot is a symbolic coffin carried in Shi'i procession of Muharram. Taboot signifies the coffin of the grandson of Porophet Mohammad martyred at the tragic battle of Karbala in the 7th century. The event is commemorated by Shi'a-Muslims every year in the month of Muharram. Qaysar Bagh hall, also known as Habib high- School, is in the south of Mumbai.

Alaam: Iranians' Mosque, Dongri, Mumbai, India, December 2010

Carrying a symbolic flag (alaam) at the courtyard of Iranians’ Mosque during the commemoration of Muharram; the mosque is also known as Mugol Masjid, which has a long story...

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.