Thousands of Shia devotees in black dresses participated in the Bibi ka Alam procession in Hyderabad. The 9-km long procession started from Dabeerpura and ended at Chaderghat under tight security. The procession, also known as Youm-e-Ashura, marks the martyrdom anniversary of Hazrat Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.
The Bibi ka Alam, dedicated to Hazrat Hussain, was carried on a beautifully decorated elephant called Madhuri, specially brought from Karnataka. The procession was accompanied by massive crowds, with youth following on camels. Men beat their chests in grief along the route. This procession has been an important event for Shia-Muslims in Hyderabad for over 400 years. Many mourners representing different Anjumans participated in the tatbir ritual along the entire stretch.
The procession passed through various areas including Yakutpura, Charminar, and Purani Haveli before culminating at Chaderghat after dusk. The City police had issued a traffic advisory and made arrangements for the smooth passage of the procession. The procession concluded peacefully with the help of tight security measures and traffic arrangements.
At Charminar, City Police Commissioner CV Anand and other officials offered their respects to the Bibi Ka Alam atop the elephant. It is a tradition for the city police to welcome the procession and pay their respects. Over a thousand police personnel guarded the procession, with higher officials providing instructions to field officers.
