Making taziya a symbol of sectarian harmony

LUCKNOW: In a dimly lit room near the Pajawa cemetery area ahead of Muftiganj, 85 years old Moharram Ali, a Sunni by faith is busy making taziyas (tableaux) for Muharram processions that will be led by Shias. The roof to his home just might fall by next monsoon and the two 100 watt bulbs are barely enough to facilitate the intricate work. Irrespective of the Shia-Sunni conflict in some parts of the world, he is making a replica of Imam Hussain’s mausoleum.
“The discord has never affected my work. Making taziya earns me whatever I can to take care of my family at this old age,” says Ali, with scant regard to the war led by ISIS, as he embellishes paper with glitter and glue, and sharpening bamboo sticks to joining the pieces of the 22 feet taziya. Moharram Ali embodies the ‘aqeedah’ (faith and beliefs) of both sects.
“I was born in the month of Moharram, hence my name,” he says flashing a toothless smile. He was inspired to create the 22-25 feet taziyas by his grandfather who in their ancestral home in Ahmedganj of Bahraich district was a master of the art. After losing his father at the age of 12 in a Shia-Sunni clash in his village, young Moharram Ali came to Lucknow looking for livelihood. With his talent and experience of assisting his grandfather, he started building taziyas along with his elder brother. Shia-Sunni clashes continued, but did not deter him from his craft, displaying his skills and love for the Prophet’s grandson.
Right after Shab-e-bara’at, Moharram Ali begins making taziya—only about 10 now because of age and ill health and they sell for Rs 1,500 each at Sultanul Madaris in Chowk.
“A lot of Shia craftsmen take my help, saying, ‘Chacha, help me with the jaali’…or the dome and I oblige.”
Naseem Ali of Jarwal district of Bahraich has been coming to Lucknow for 17 years with a group of nine other Sunnis and their families to make the 20-feet high taziya taken out in Shahi Juloos of 1st Muharram.
“What they are doing in Iraq, the atrocities on Muslims, is not a Shia-Sunni issue. We should spread love instead of hate,” says Naseem who believes religion is one; just the way of following it differs.
After a 22-year ban on Muharram processions was lifted in 1997, Jarwal’s Sunni craftsmen were in demand. Naseem Ali has been attached with the Chhota Imambara. He takes out wax taziya for Shahi Juloos and puts it back safely on Chhota Imambara precincts.