Agra authorities on alert ahead of Muharram, Muslim body calls for peaceful celebration

Agra authorities have been put on alert ahead of Muharram and the Muslim body has called for a peaceful celebration.

The district administration of Agra has been put on alert as Muharram, or the new Islamic year, begins on July 31 and Bhartiya Muslim Vikas Parishad has called for peaceful celebration.

The Muslim community will be engaged in the expression of their grief in front of the 'Tazias' that will be placed all over the country, including Agra for ten days.

Speaking to India Today, Bhartiya Muslim Vikas Parishad President Sami Aghai said, "The Tazias will be buried in Karbala on the tenth day of grieving. Muharram was put on hold for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With the pandemic now receding, the Tazia processions will be taken out like the pre-Covid time."

Sami Aghai appealed to the Muslim community to celebrate Muharram peacefully and not to be instigated by anti-social elements.

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"Phoolon wala Tazia, which is the biggest Tazia in the Agra division, will be placed at the Imambara in Nai Basti for three days before being buried in Karbala. In these three days, thousands of men, women, and children will visit the Imambara and seek blessings. There will be a heavy police force deployment on the occasion," he said.

"Many Hindu festivals such as Rakshabandhan, Nag Panchami, Kailash fair, Ram Bharat and Shravan month fall at the same time when the Muharram starts. People of Agra have to come forward and assist the administration to ensure that the festivals conclude peacefully,"Hindustani Biradari Vice-Chairman Vishal Sharma said.