Local Hindus reminisce time they took out Tazias

Due to precarious security, Peshawar’s Hindu community can no longer observe Muharram processions

PESHAWAR: Members of the Hindu community in Peshawar would once take out Tazia along with Muslims on Ashura as a mark of respect for Imam Hussain (RA). But with religious intolerance running high nowadays, the community can no longer think of doing so.

“Hindus were more active in observing Muharram, but now it is a thing of the past,” Haroon Sarabdiyal told The Express Tribune on Friday. Hindus, he added, now could not even think about taking out a Tazia or beating their chests because of the security situation.

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“Our procession would start from the centuries’ old Kali Bari temple in Sadder,” said Sarabdiyal while sharing details of their Muharram activities. “I remember very well… we would prepare for the procession for several weeks, even Christian families would join us.”

The Hindu community of Peshawar believes that it was an example of inter-religious harmony as there was no aversion, no instability and everyone would observe it irrespective of their religion and sectarian differences.

The elder said that the tradition that remained alive for 30 years had just faded away. “It was a symbol of nationalism and unity but now we have been divided on the basis of sects, and the education system has played a very negative role in this regard,” he lamented.

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Sarabdiyal finds no religious reason behind observing Ashura. “[Imam] Husain [RA] and his companions at Karbala sacrificed their lives for the right, and that is what we also believe in,” he said.

“Everyone, irrespective of religion, respects the sacrifices they made for the right,” he said. “No human being living on Earth can ignore their sacrifices.”

For centuries, Peshawar had been a city with divergent cultural traditions and beliefs which co-existed peacefully.

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“Just to keep the old tradition alive, we have arranged a Tazia but unlike the past, it is limited to our homes,” said Vishal, General Secretary Rajput Welfare Society. He deplored that if the procession was not held, the new generation would never know that Hindus also observed Muharram.

Historian Dr Salahudin thinks recounting the procession shows the history of the city. “The days are sacred for everyone, but now non-Muslims and even Muslims, at times, are not allowed to come close to the procession,” he regretted.

According to Salahudin, Peshawar, historically, has had a lot of Iranian influence. “In the past, Peshawar was a small city surrounded by a wall and everyone was part of every ritual and tradition. The current situation of insecurity changed the culture and also ruined the religious harmony,” he deplores.

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Babaji Guru Gurpal Singh, a Sikh elder, told The Express Tribune that times had changed now. While reminiscing on the past, he said people of all faiths would attend the procession. He added that not only routes had been changed but the very strict security situation had also kept them away from this tradition.

However, Singh said they had set up a Muttahida Aman Committee whose “members visit different imambargahs and offer their help to the mourners”. He added that teams had also been sent to Tirah valley to arrange a Tazia.

“We can’t forget our centuries-old traditions,” said Gurpal. “Once the security situation improves, maybe we will observe Muharram again.”