But during Moharram, gold and silver tazias to be displayed
GORAKHPUR The two over 200year-old gold and silver tazias, which on normal days are kept locked behind seven doors for their safety, will be taken out for a 10-day public display during Moharram, expectedly from September 11 to 21, at iconic Gorakhpur Imambara.
A centre of attraction at the Imambara, the tazias (a replica of the mausoleum of Imam Hussain, Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, in Iraq) weigh five kg each, are five feet high and 3.5 feet in breadth and have beautiful artwork on them. There is no estimation of their price.
In 2006, some part of the gold tazia was stolen and since then its security has been beefed up.
Four security personnel guard the tazias round-the-clock and other security arrangements, like CCTVs, are also in place. Before display, the tazias are given a gold and silver polish to get their shine back.
The sprawling Imambara, having a six-acre campus, was built in 1796 on the initiative of sufi saint Roshan Ali Shah, originally of Baghdad, who migrated to India to spread the message of Islam and humanity.
The tazias will be on display for devotees of all religions, who visit the Imambara in large numbers form across UP to offer prayers and make a wish during Moharram, the death anniversary of Imam Hussain, who attained martyrdom in the battle of Karbala in Iraq.
“Like every year, this year too devotees will be allowed to see the tazias and offer prayer,” said Mia Sahab Adnan Farrokh, who is the sixth Gaddinashin of the Imambara estate.
It is said the tazias were gifted to the saint by the wife of Asafud-Daula, the nawab of Oudh who was impressed with the divine power of the saint.
It is said that once the nawab lost his way in the jungle while hunting.
On the way he was shocked to see saint Roshan Ali mediating without clothes in the shivering cold. With the intention to help, the nawab offered his blanket to the saint, who put it into the bonfire near him. This made the nawab angry but the next moment the saint showed a ‘miracle’ by putting his hand in the fire and taking out many more similar blankets.
Seeing this, the nawab got impressed and asked the saint to make a wish. The saint
asked the nawab to construct the Imambara in memory of Imam Hussain and the nawab fulfilled the saint’s wish.
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IT IS SAID THE TAZIAS WERE GIFTED TO THE SAINT BY THE WIFE OF ASAFUDDAULA, THE NAWAB OF OUDH