Muharram observed peacefully sans processions

Nashik: Muharram, the occasion to commemorate the supreme sacrifice of Imam Hussain, was observed peacefully in Nashik on Sunday. Hundreds of Muslims as well as Hindus visited the Manacha Tazia at Imamshahi and offered prayers.
However, no Muharram procession was carried out in the city for second second in a row.
Last year, the processions had to be cancelled due to sensitive situation in city after an incident in Talegaon (Nashik taluka).While this year, the Muslim outfits have decided to skip processions for religious reasons.
Tazias from other localities would come to Imamshahi and offer their prayers to Haloka Tazia here, said Sayyad Kalim Noor, patron of prestigious Haloka Tazia in the city. “Haloka Tazia has a glorious tradition of 400 years. Numbers of Tazia come here and people offer their prayers here to mark the day of Yaum-e-Ashura, tenth day of Muharram. After the rituals the Haloka Tazia is buried during night at the same venue,” he said.
Barring processions, all religious rituals were observed in city on Sunday to mark Muharram. It was a fair like crowd near Imamshahi where Muslims as well as Hindus offered prayers together. As per tradition, Hindu devotees lifted the Haloka Tazia for a day on Sunday.
“Hindus believe that this Tazia has answers to their prayers and they worship it with precious offerings as well. We attend the fair organised at Imamshahi on Muharram and join the Muslims in their mourning prayers,” Sandesh Jadhav, a devotee of Haloka Tazia, said.
Cold drinks and sharbats were offered to visitors in many parts of Old Nashik city area along the day.