Maratha Rulers Mourned Muharram Like Muslims
By
Saquib Salim, New Age Islam
24 July
2023
“Muharram
is a general mourning observed by the Mohammadans to commemorate the death of
Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet: and the universal ardour with which
the Marathas, who are Hindus, participate in its ceremonies is curious enough.
Everyone turns Fuqeer: that is he wears some green rags: with a string of green
and red cotton yarn, tied up like beads, across his shoulders; and goes about
begging from such of his acquaintance as are foolish enough to give him
anything; the term Fuqeer implying a religious beggar. Groups of such grotesque
figures are to be seen in all directions wandering about the camp asking for
alms and calling upon the names of Muhammad, Ali, and Hussain. The Maharaj
(Daulat Rao Sindhia) himself even gives into this ridiculous custom, and is a Fuqeer
during the whole of the Muharram.”
Taziya procession as depicted in
Thomas Duer Broughton's Book
-----
This was
written by Thomas Duer Broughton, an English officer at the court of Maharaj
Daulat Rao Sindhia, in a letter to his brother in 1809. More than anything else
these letters are a window into the syncretic culture of India.
In A
Painting of the durbar of Daultat Rao Scindia of Gwalior
------
In 1809
Broughton was traveling with Sindhia and his army through Rajasthan where he
witnessed Hindu-Muslim unity, which according to him was ‘ridiculous’. A few
days before Muharram and Holi he wrote, “two most opposite festivals (Holi and
Muharram) happening this year to fall together”. He could not believe that
Hindu Marathas respect Muslim sentiments equally.
Broughton
witnessed that Sindhia came out wearing green clothes without any other
customary ornaments during the month of Muharram. He would visit each Taziya
in the camp. Taziyas represented the tomb of Hussain and a person would
read Marsiya in front of that. He also witnessed the ceremony of chest-beating
which according to him was ‘quite frantic’ and ‘impressive in the highest
degree’.
On the
tenth day of Muharram, these Taziyas would be taken to a nearby river. Each
procession went through the camp of Sindhia. Broughton wrote, “There were more
than a hundred Taziyas, each followed by a long train of Fuqeers, dressed most
extravagantly, beating their breasts, and loudly calling upon the prophet and
his grandson. The flaming of torches, firing of matchlocks, and the harsh and
discordant sounds of Mahratta drums and trumpets united with the strange but
animated groups passing on all sides, to produce the most extraordinary scene I
ever beheld. Such of the Mahratta Sardars as are not Brahmins frequently
construct Taziyas at their tents, and expend large sums of money upon
them; many of these were very handsome.”
Broughton
noted how Hindus and Muslims at the Maratha camp arranged Sherbats (drinks) for
the mourners in the procession and royal women also took part in these events.
Allama
Saiyyid Sibtul Hasan Fāzil-i Hanswi in his book on Muharram processions points
out that Broughton had witnessed Muharram mournings of Marathas when they were
on an armed expedition. One can imagine how much grander it had been in their
capitals during peace times.
URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/maratha-rulers-mourned-muharram-muslims/d/130290
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