Qasim's martyrdom mourned

LUCKNOW: As the 10th day of Moharram approaches, functions in the city too proceed towards their culmination. The seventh day of this month mourns the death of Hazrat Qasim, son of Imam Hasan.
‘‘Though all the companions and members of Bani Hashim were killed on 10th of Moharrun , each day is fixed for the mourning of a particular martyr� says Yasa Rizvi.Likewise 7th of Mohurrum is decicated to Qasim,the 13-year-old son of Imam Hasan,elder brother of Imam Hussain.
As the legend goes, Imam Hussain solemnised Qasim’s marriage to his daughter on this day . “In Lucknow, the tradition of mehndi is considered to be the most important one at the time of marriage, so on this day Mehndi processions are taken out,� explains Yasa Rizvi.
The biggest procession is ‘shahi Mehndi ka juloos’ taken out from the Bada Imambara, culminating at Chota Imambara. With elephants, camels, alams, and mehndi accompanied by sozkhans (those who recite elegies) in it, thousands thronged the streets of Hussainabad to watch it.
The tradition of mehndi was started by Mohammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Lucknow, recounts Yasa Rizvi. Earlier in the day big majalis were held at Shia Degree College,Imambara Ghufran M’aab ,Imambara Agha Baqar,Madarsa-e-Nazmia and Afzal were Maulana Agha Roohi,Maulana Kalbe Jawwad,Maulana Meesam Zaidi and Maulana Hameedul Hasan, who narrated the maryrdom of Hazrat Qasim.