Muharram ornaments: Earning enough in a month to last a year
Muharram is a month of mourning, prayers and reflection, but for the shopkeepers near one of the oldest imambargahs in Rawalpindi, it presents an opportunity to earn enough profit to coast along till the new Islamic year.
Shah Chan Charagh shrine in Old Sarafa Bazaar is named for a 17th century spiritual leader where both Shias and Sunnis pray for fulfilment of their wishes next to the Babul Hawaij Imamabargah.
A few paces from the shrine, Naila and Nabila, were examining the variety of ornaments on display at Husnain Majalis, which has been in business for over four decades.
Most of the ornaments are used to decorate the taazia (a replica of Imam Hussain’s shrine), Zuljinah (symbolic of the horse Imam Hussain rode into the Karbala battle) and alam (representative of the standard Abbas carried into the battlefield) for Muharram processions.
“I’ve been decorating the alam and taazia for Muharram since I was a child. Now my children perform the ritual despite the sky-rocketing prices of these ornaments,” said Naila.
The ornaments, mostly in gold and silver, are made by Maqsud Hussain, a septuagenarian who began learning the craft at the age of five.
Sohail Iqbal, the shopkeeper said, “People begin preparations much before Muharram; they place orders for ornaments and start collecting money to organise the procession on a grand scale.” “We earn enough in Muharram to see us through the year,” he said, adding that rest of the year the customers only buy votive offerings that are usually placed at shrines after their wishes have been fulfilled.
Hussain chimed in, “Most orders are placed by women who make vows for fulfilment of their wishes known as mannat.”
When the people’s prayers are answered, they make votive offerings, he added.
Shias prefer to offer a panja or a replica of Abbas’s hand, Ali Asghar’s cradle, a shawl for Zuljinah
and chains for alam, all of which are made in gold or silver, he said.
Hussain also makes replicas of the heart, eyes and hands for people who are physically disabled or are suffering from disease. “When the patients recover, they donate the replica to the nearest imambargah to fulfil their commitment,” he added.
Most women pray for marriage, children and prosperity and most votive offerings are dedicated to Zuljinah, Hussain said. “Sometimes we make millions in Muharram due to ornaments for Zuljinah.”
Narrow and increasingly congested streets in and around Old Sarafa Bazar has affected business, however.
Iqbal complained of the city administration’s neglect and said some of their customers now prefer to visit jewellers in Islamabad to avoid congestion and traffic jams.
He said that the administration should widen the streets in the locality, keeping in view its historical significance.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 25th, 2012.
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