Hyderabad echoes with cries of 'Ya Hussain'

Mourners take part in 128 processions as security remains on high alert

HYDERABAD:

Hundreds of mourners participated in the central 9th Muharram procession in Hyderabad on Friday as more than 128 mourning processions were taken out across the city, with authorities enforcing elaborate security measures to ensure peaceful observance of the occasion.

The city's main and historic procession emerged from Imambargah Shaheed Syed Hassan Raza Jafri in Latifabad Unit No 5 following a Majlis addressed by Maulana Hassan Raza Jafri. The procession featured Alam-e-Abbas, symbolic taboots, Zuljanah, Jhoola of Hazrat Ali Asghar (AS), and replicas of the shrine of Imam Hussain (AS), alongside other sacred relics.

Processions carrying Alams from different localities joined the central procession, while mourners engaged in noha recitation and chest-beating rituals throughout the route. The atmosphere echoed with chants of "Ya Hussain" and "Labbaik Ya Hussain" as participants paid tribute to the martyrs of Karbala.

The procession passed through its traditional route before reaching the residence of Shehzad Naqvi, where participants offered Zuhrain prayers. Several Majalis were also held at different points along the route before the procession concluded at the residence of Shaheed Syed Mohsin Raza Jafri in the evening.

Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Shoro and Sindh Assembly member Sabir Qaimkhani joined the procession at Rabi-ul-Awal Chowk in Latifabad Unit No 10.

Numerous sabeels and camps were established along the procession routes, where refreshments, nazr-o-niyaz and langar were distributed among mourners.

In addition to the central procession, several Zuljanah and mourning processions were taken out in different parts of the city, including Market, Pinyari and Phuleli areas. At various locations, mourners performed zanjeer zani and other traditional mourning rituals, during which several participants sustained minor injuries.

Security remained on high alert throughout the day. Police and Rangers personnel were deployed along all major procession routes, while roads were secured with barricades and barbed wire. Bomb disposal squads, fire tenders and emergency response teams also accompanied the processions to ensure public safety.

According to officials, the city witnessed more than 128 small and large mourning processions on the 9th of Muharram, including five classified as highly sensitive and two as sensitive from a security perspective.