Festival of Muharram
The Festival of Muharram (Arabic: احتفال محرم or مناسبة محرم) is an important period of mourning in the Shi'ite branch of Islam. It signifies the Karbala tragedy when Husayn bin Ali, a grandson of Muhammad, was martyred.
This festival is observed in the first month of the Hijra year, Muharram, in October. Mourners beat their chests, lamenting and grieving to the tune of beating drums and chants of "Ya Husayn". Dancers reenact scenes of the battle at Karbala, while many inflict wounds on their bodies.
It is from the traditional cry of "Ya Husayn" that the title of Hobson-Jobson, a dictionary of Hindustani terms, is derived.
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