Chup Tazia

Chup Tazia (Urdu: چُپ تَعِزْیَہ) or silent tazia is the name given to religious processions held mostly on 8th of Rabi' al-awwal by Twelver Shia Muslims in India and Pakistan to commemorate the death of Imam Hasan al-Askari, the eleventh of the Twelver Shi'a Imams.[1] The procession is usually regarded as the last procession of the mourning period that begins in the Islamic month of Muharram.[2]

Origin in Lucknow[edit]

The procession under the name of Chup Tazia have originated in the Indian city of Lucknow before spreading to other parts of South Asia.[3] The procession dates back to nawabi era and was started by Nawab Ahmed Ali Khan Shaukat Yar Jung a descendant of Bahu Begum.[4] It is one of the most important processions of azadari in Lucknow and is currently one of the nine allowed processions.[5] During nineteenth century this procession of Nawab Aggan Mian's family which earlier was raised on the day of Chehlum (20th Safar) was shifted to eighteenth day of Chehlum i.e. 8th of Rabi' al-awwal.[6] This last mourning procession taken out on the morning of 8th of Rabi' al-awwal,[2][7] includes alam, zari and tazia, originates from Imambara Nazim Saheb in Victoria street and moves in complete silence while passes through Patanala until it terminates at Karbala Kazmain, where the colossal black tazia is buried.[1][8][9] On 26 May 1969, after a series of fairly serious clashes and murders, another riot broke out when a Shia Alam and Chup Tazia procession which had passed through the predominantly Sunni mohallas of Pul Ghulam and Mahmoodnagar almost peacefully was suddenly brick-batted from a Sunni mosque as the procession reached Mahmoodnagar.[10][11]

Allahabad[edit]

There are two Chup Tazia processions in Allahabad,[12][13]

  1. The first procession of Anjuman-e-Haideriya starts from Imambara Mirza Naqi Beg in Rani Mandi and passes through Bachchaji Ki Kothi, Kotwali, Khuldabad and terminates at Karbala.
  2. The second procession of Dasta-e-Abbasia starts from Imam Raza Masjid or Imambara Laddan Khan in Daryabad and culminates at Pathanwali Imambara Arab Ali Khan.

Hyderabad, India[edit]

In Hyderabad (India) the procession starts from Dabeerpura Flyover and reaches Alawa-e-Sartouq Mubarak at Darushafa which is a Shia Majority area in Hyderabad just before evening prayers (maghrib prayers). At this place a short majlis is arranged and after this majlis the black flags which symbolise sorrow are removed and red flags are hoisted which symbolise the joy. This changing of flags takes place as the next day, the ninth of Rabi al awwal, is festival day (Eid e Zehra s.w.a).

Karachi[edit]

Chup Tazia began in Pakistan after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. Mr. Nawab Hassan Lucknowi is founder Chup Tazia in Karachi, Pakistan. After his death, his son continues his mission. Now Mr. Imtiaz Hussain has led the Chup Tazia procession in Nishtar Park, Karachi. There are two Chup Tazia processions in Karachi:[14][15]

  1. First procession starts after the Fajr prayer from Nishtar Park in Soldier Bazar and culminates at Imambargah Hussainia Irania in Kharadar after the Zohrain prayers.
  2. Second procession starts from Qasr-e-Musayyab in Rizvia Society and culminates at Masjid-o-Imambargah Shah-e-Najaf on Martin Road.

Kamoke-Gujranwala[edit]

Chup Tazia began in Pakistan after the independence of Pakistan in 1947. In 1998, Syed Ali Abbas Naqvi started Chup Tazia juloos in Kamoke-Gujranwala, Pakistan.

Alipur Chatha (Akalghar) Chup Tazia jaloos was started in Alipur Chatha (Akalghar) District Gujranwala by Dr. Syed Ali Akthar in 1948 when he migrated from Sadhaura District Ambala (now District Yumnanagar) India. Chup Tazia majalish starts on 6th of Rabi ul Awal.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Census of India, 1961, Volume 1, Issue 3, Manager of Publications, Office of the Registrar General of India
  2. ^ a b Palace culture of Lucknow, Amir Hasan, B.R. Pub. Corp., 1983
  3. ^ Noorani, Asif (November 25, 2012). "Combining creed with culture". Dawn.com. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  4. ^ ""Chup Tazia" procession in Lucknow: A religious and cultural tradition". TwoCircles.net. February 23, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  5. ^ twocircles.net, Before Muharram begins, gloom descends on Old Lucknow, 7 December 2010
  6. ^ Lucknow, the historic city, W. H. Siddiqi, Sundeep Prakashan, 2000, Study of Lucknow's monuments based on historical facts, and with descriptions of salient architectural features
  7. ^ The Shi'a of India, John Norman Hollister, Oriental Books Reprint Corporation, 1953
  8. ^ Lucknow monuments, Yogeśa Pravīna, Pnar Publications, 1989
  9. ^ Aag ka darya, Qurratulʻain Ḥaidar, Oxford University Press, 01-Jan-1999
  10. ^ Islamic society and culture: essays in honour of Professor Aziz Ahmad, ʻAzīz Aḥmad, Milton Israel, Manohar, 1983, Collection of articles honoring Aziz Ahmad, 1913-1978, historian of Muslim life and Culture.
  11. ^ Violence erupts, Sugata Dasgupta, Dileep Padgaonker, Radha Krishna, 1978
  12. ^ "Chup tazia procession to be taken out today". The Times of India. Feb 22, 2010. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  13. ^ "Chup Tazia procession taken out". The Times of India. Feb 12, 2011. Archived from the original on February 16, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  14. ^ "Routes of Chup Tazia procession announced". The News International. January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2013.
  15. ^ "Chup Tazia procession routes announced". Daily Times. January 17, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2013.