Where many streams mix: Muharram rituals in West Bengal, India
ajoy....@gmail.com
Muharram is the first month of Muslim calendar. The tenth day of this
month is known as 'Asura'. This day is special in many ways: it is
believed that on this day Allah created earth, Adam was created, Adam
was expelled from the Heaven, Moses received his commandments, Hazrat
Muhammad was born, and finally, the earth will be destroyed on this
day. Above all, on this day in the battle of Karbala, Imam Hossain,
grandson of Hazrat Muhammad was killed in 680 A.D. Muslims all over the
world celebrate this day; in West Bengal, the part of Bengal that is
now in India, this day is celebrated in ways that are special and
unique. It reveals a fascinating mixture of Hindu, indigenous and
Islamic traditions. This film attempts to capture this special
character of the festival and reasserts the plurality of Indian
cultural milieu.
The Shi'ah sect of Muslims observe this day as martyrs day. People of
this sect in Murshidabad district, which housed the capital of Bengal
before the arrival of the British, mourn continuously for ninty days
from the first day of the month of Muharram. On the late evening on the
ninth day they walks on fire as may be seen in the Gajan festival of
Lord Siva of Hindus.
The Sunni sect is not supposed to observe Muharram. They observe Asura
though by fasting for three days during this month. However, the Sunnis
of Bengal observe Muharram which is not supported by their
'Sariyat'. In some places they cook rice on their head; some pierce
their cheek with sharp needle as seen in the Gajan festival. In other
places they use blade and chained knives on their body like Shi'ahs.
In the Gajan rituals, the disciples pierce their body with sharp
needles and rods on different part of their body, and men and Women
walk with fire on their head. As again, the rituals of the Gajan
festival of Hindus are not original. These rituals can be seen in the
'Baha' festival of the Santals, a group of indigenous peoples of
India.
In West Bengal, we see that different streams of culture have
amalgamated to give rise to a specific 'local Islamic culture' that
is place-specific and owes much to social and political history. Sunnis
here line up in processions, follows the rituals heavily influenced by
the surrounding Hindu community but also the indigenous traditions that
have been completely wiped out from the region. Many locals are
'converted' Muslims, who carry the rituals of their forefathers in
their heads. In many villages 'Jari' and 'Marshia' songs are
sung. The words of these songs are everyday household words; even the
tune is like 'Panchali', or 'Kirtan' which is again the
influence of the local Hindu people. The film reinforces the belief and
faith in a plural cultural future of India at a time of extreme
religious tension and communal politics.
Duration: 40 minutes(app.) Format: MPEG IICD & DVD Language: English
Produced & Directed by: Ajoy Konar
Contact address: Ajoy Konar
11,Kachari road, Burdwan-713 101, West Bengal, India
Phone: (91) (342) 2569536/ 3290870
e-mail: ajoy....@gmail.com
binayak chatterjee
ajoy konar
come if you like.
you were supposed to come on last 4th but you didn't
beast wishes
Ajoy Konar
imon
imon
ajoy....@gmail.com
you 'll find here another doc. that is, dasabatar tas of bishnupur.
the docs. i made is meant for the researchers in varios fields like
sociology, comparative religion and the like. these are strictly for
sale as you know they have the contingency moneyto procure data for
their research. if we meet any time in future, maybe i would show you
those of your interest.
till then...
you are welcome in this group and please keep me awake by your lively
enquerries.