In Pictures: Ashura Re-enactment with 1200 Actors
Every year, millions of Shia Muslims in countries like Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan mourn the anniversary of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam (Saint) and descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
Ceremonies include processions, mourning, lamentations, chest beating, panegyrics (eulogies) and re-enactments of the heroic 7th century battle that took place between Imam Hussein and the Islamic caliph named Yazid near the city of Karbala. Pictures in this article is from such reenactment, described below.
For the Shia, Yazid who loved wine, women and concubines and made his slaves pregnant, is an epitome of evil and is annually reviled in the Ashura processions and passion plays. Ashura is the 10th day of the Islamic calendar and the day Imam Hussein was martyred.
Every year, in the town of "Sahra Roud" near Fasa in Iran, some 1200 actors re-enact the battle of Karbala.
This annual ceremony, which has been performed for the past 250 years, is the largest known religious passion play and re-enactment of its type in Iran.
For the militant Shia groups in Lebanon (like Hezbollah) and Iran, the epic revolt of Imam Hussein (a grandson of Prophet Muhammad) against an unjust Caliph symbolizes selfless devotion and heroic sacrifices one needs to make against injustice and tyranny.
Pictures shown here are from this event.
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