With the COVID-19 pandemic casting a shadow on Muharram, Hyderabad may miss the traditional ‘Bibi Ka Alam’ procession.
With religious gatherings banned under the COVID guidelines by the Union Home Ministry, this historic city may not see the annual procession for the first time in more than 400 years.
Though leaders of the Shia community and public representatives in the old city of Hyderabad have urged the Telangana government to allow the procession, the authorities are not likely to give permission for its conduct in the manner and scale of the past
Thousands of people participate in the historic procession taken out every year on ‘Youm-e-Ashoora’ or the 10th day of Muharram, which may fall on August 30 — depending on the sighting of the moon.
Thousands take part in the procession marking the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the battle of Karbala
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar is expected to take a final decision on the procession in a day or two.
Last month, the authorities had not permitted the Bonalu procession in the city in view of the COVID protocol.
Every year, the traditional Bonalu procession is taken out on a decorated elephant, carrying ‘ghatams’ of Goddess Mahakali from Akkanna Madonna temple.
As no permission was given for a gathering of the devotees, people celebrated the festival at their homes. Five persons from the temple carried the ‘ghatam’ in an auto-rickshaw from the temple and performed the annual rituals.
Siasat News
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