TS not to allow elephant for ‘Bibi Ka Alam’ rally
The government is not inclined to allow the use of an elephant for the ‘Bibi Ka Alam’ procession on Ashoora day of Muharram due to Covid-19 protocols currently in place. Representatives of the Shia community said the centuries-old tradition should be continued. The city police will take a final decision on Saturday.
A high-level meeting was held to draw up the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the Ashoora procession, under the chairmanship of minister Koppula Eshwar with the officials of different departments and representatives of Shia community. Home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali attended the meeting.
Sources said both ministers opined that using the elephant to carry the ‘Bibi Ka Alam’ will attract a huge gathering, which is not desirable in the present circumstances. Mahmood Ali suggested using a camel to carry the alam (standard). The Shia representatives urged the ministers and officials not to stop them using the elephant as this tradition has been continued for more than four centuries.
The ministers agreed to hold the central procession on the 10th day of Muharram, which falls on August 30 (depending on the sighting of the moon) with few participants in light of the guidelines issued by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
However, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar expressed reservations over granting permission for the central procession.
Secretary, Shia Companions, Syed Ali Jaffry said that everyone was concerned about the government’s stand and its strategy for the Muharram procession and mourning congregations, but only a few representatives of the Shia community were invited from the city for the meeting. The state has 11,866 Ashoorkhanas. In the rural areas, Sunnis and non-Muslims also participate and organise the ceremonies. Jaffry suggested issuing separate proceedings containing SOPs to all district authorities.
The meeting was attended by Wakf Board chairman Mohammed Saleem, legislators Mumtaz Ahmed Khan and Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, Legislative Council member Mirza Riyaz ul Hasan Effendi and Deputy Mayor Baba Fasihuddin.
A.K. Khan, advisor to the government, Ahmed Nadeem, secretary, minorities welfare, Shahnawaz Qasim, director minorities welfare, Moulana Syed Nisar Hussain Hyder Agha (Shia Usooli), Mohammed Qasim, CEO Wakf Board, Moulana Syed Waheeduddin Hyder Jaffry (Shia Akhbari), Najaf Ali Shoukat, president, Shia Markazi Anjumano-Matami Gurohan and Mir Abbas Ali Moosavi, president of Anjumane-Mutawallian were present.