66 years gone,'Tazia' awaits burial

Varanasi, Jan 29 (UNI) While countless 'Tazias' will be laid to rest across the country on Muharram, a silvery-golden coloured 'Tazia' in the Haqaq Tola locality here will not be buried for the 66th year in a row.

''It's Muharram tomorrow and we will not bury this 'Tazia' for the 66th year in row,'' maintained Munawwar Ali (75), one of the leading men entrusted with the task of keeping the Tazia away from burial.

The genesis of this strange practice dates back to the pre-independence era, when on the Muharram day in 1942, there was a dispute between Muslims and Hindus over the 'Tazia' being laid to rest in the Ganga river.

''For many decades, Haqaq Tola's 'Tazia' was laid to rest in the Ganga river at Meer Ghat, but in 1942, those belonging to an 'akhara' in the Meer Ghat area objected to our Muharram procession, following which there was a brawl resulting in injuries to many people on both sides,''Mr Ali recounted.

''While both sides to the dispute registered criminal cases, the 'Tazia' was brought back to Haqaq Tola and not buried in the years to come.'' After independence, the authorities tried to resolve the matter amicably. They proposed that instead of the traditional route covering the snaking alleys, the procession take the 'Tazia' to the river from the main road, which was rejected by Muharram organisers of Haqaq Tola, Mr Ali further recounted.

''Now the practice of 'Tazia' not being laid to rest in the 66th year and the endless wait for its burial in Ganga river is not likely to be over ever,'' Mr Ali added.

''We now perform the symbolic burial of the 'Tazia', by placing its floral offering on other 'Tazias' going for burial to ponds, Ganga river and the Karballeh Fatimaan graveyard on Muharram day.

All the other rituals, including Teeja, Fatiya and Khichra are performed, but no one dares to lift the Tazia for burial'' Mr Ali maintained.

While the elders of the locality are content with not breaking the over six decade old abstinence of physical burial of 'Tazia', the younger lot is still optimistic that the ice will be broken soon.

''Elders say only when the Hindu brothers of Meer Ghat will join us, we will cool the Tazia in Ganga. However, youngers feel that by the next Muharram, they may resolve the matter with the people of Meer Ghat and then the Hindu brothers will welcome the 'Tazia' at the river through the traditional route,'' said Daud while refurbishing the Tazia for this Muharram.

UNI