MUSLIMS OBSERVE ASHURA ACROSS INDIA

NATURAL WITH URDU SPEECH

DURATION: 2.30

SOURCE: ANI

TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NONE

Muslims observe Ashura across India.

Muslims rally in several parts of India to commemorate Ashura, a holy day that marks the slaying of Prophet Mohammad's grandson Hussein.

SHOWS:

AURANGABAD, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA (DECEMBER 28, 2009) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

1. ASHURA PROCESSION

2. MUSLIMS IN THE PROCESSION

3. THE PROCESSION

4. PEOPLE DANCING

5. MEN DRESSED IN BLACK BEATING THEIR CHESTS

6. MEN BEATING THEIR CHESTS

7. MEN BEATING CHESTS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) MEHDI ABBAAS RZVI, A MUSLIM DEVOUT, SAYING:"We believe that there should be peace and brotherhood across India. If today we say that we should be educated and on the other hand we behave otherwise then it's of no use. That's why we mark the occasion and the brotherhood between the Sunnis and Shia Muslims in Aurangabad is a perfect example."

AYODHYA, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA (DECEMBER 28, 2009) (ANI-ACCESS ALL)

9. MUSLIMS TAKING OUT A PROCESSION

10. THE PROCESSION

11. THE PROCESSION

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) SAIYAD SAFDAR RAZA, ANOTHER MUSLIM DEVOUT, SAYING:"Cutting across all religious boundaries, people of all faith come and pay tribute on the 9th Moharram. And even today everyone will participate in the procession. There is no problem at all."

13. MUSLIMS IMMERSING TAZIYAS (SACRED CLOTH) INTO THE RIVER

14. MUSLIMS IMMERSING TAZIYAS

STORY: Indian Muslims rallied in several parts of the country on Monday (December 28) to mark the slaying of Prophet Mohammad's grandson Hussein.

Muslims marched on the streets to commemorate Ashura, the 10th day of the lunar month of Muharram in Islamic calendar.

The holy day marks the slaying of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Hussein, at the battle of Kerbala in 680 AD, an event that defines Shi'ism and its rift with Sunni Islam.

Devotees carried replicas to represent the coffin of Imam Hussein and his horse, and mourned the suffering of Imam Hussein

Many of the emotionally charged faithful, in tears, beat their chests in remembrance of the tragedy at Karbala, in modern Iraq, where the Imam and his family members were killed.

In Aurangabad in western Maharashtra state, Shia Muslims took out a procession to mark the day. Mourners, who took part in the processions, recited verses and paid tributes to the Imam for his sacrifice.

"We believe that there should be peace and brotherhood across India. If today we say that we should be educated and on the other hand we behave otherwise then it's of no use. That's why we mark the occasion and the brotherhood between the Sunnis and Shia Muslims in Aurangabad is a perfect example," said Mehdi Abbaas Rzvi.

In northern Ayodhya too, people took out religious processions.

"Cutting across all religious boundaries, people of all faith come and pay tribute on the 9th Moharram. And even today everyone will participate in the procession. There is no problem at all," said Saiyad Safdar Raza.

Shias are a minority among Muslims in the Indian sub-continent. Sunnis are the larger Muslim community in this region.