Muharram 8 processions culminate peacefully

LAHORE
The mourning activities of Ashura-e-Muharram reached close to the peak on Thursday, Muharram 8, as a number of Tazia and Alam processions of Hazrat Abbas (AS) were brought out in various parts of the city under strict security measures. Besides, a number of Majalis held in city Imambargahs where Zakirs retold the Karbala incident with particular emphasis on the martyrdom of the companions of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and the philosophy of the Azadari.
A large number of chest beating and Noah reciting mourners participated in the processions held to commemorate the sacrifice of Hazrat Abbas (AS), the stepbrother of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), who laid down his life after waging valiant war against the enemies. The processions passed through their routes and ended peacefully in the evening. The main procession was taken out from Pando Street, Islampura in the morning and marched through its route and culminated at its starting point.
Other two processions included the one from Urdu Bazaar and other Abbot Road.
The eighth of Muharram is also associated with Hazrat Ali Akbar (RA), the elder son of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA), who stood by his father’s commitment and also marshaled the Karbala martyrs as assistant of his father. Hazrat Ali Akbar also used to say Azan and was called the Moazan of Caravan-e-Karbala. His Azan-e-Fajar on the day of Ashura holds vivid memories of the battlefield.
The authorities made tough security measures for the security of the processions as thousands of police personnel belonging to different branches of law enforcing agencies were deployed to monitor them and maintain security. The routes of processions were closed for the entry of passers-by, while policemen were deployed along the routes and also at the rooftops of the building along them. The residents of the buildings alongside were barred from opening their windows and coming to roofs but women and children were allowed to watch the procession from windows. All routes were scanned and checked by squads before the arrival of the processions. All side entry and exits of the routes were sealed by barricades and police personnel were deployed on top of the buildings along the routes of the processions. The district government has also set up a main control room in DC office with 280 CCTV cameras monitoring the situation round the clock.
Major processions included the Zuljinnah and Taboot from inside Bhaati Gate which after following its designated routes ended at Chatterji Road in the night. Zuljinnah processions from Lytton Road while Taboot processions from Said Mitha Bazaar were brought out in the night which ended at inside Bhaati gate at early Thursday morning. Zuljinnah Processions were also brought out in other parts of the city included Model Town, Krishan Nagar, Imamia Colony, Jafaria Colony and Mughal Pura. Thousands of faithful mourned and flagellated themselves at different points of the procession route and the Nohakhwans recited the events of the Ashura.
The Matam (chest beating) intensified as Zakirs in their Majalis elaborated the massaibs (torments) on the family of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and their companions who were deprived of taking water from the Euphrates river by the government forces from the seventh of Muharram.