JOIN USA Hindu's way to Moharram
“It has been there like that for the past 130 years...the ‘imambara’ was built in 1879 and since then ‘Moharram’ has been observed without any interruption there,” said the owner of the house Harish Chandra Dhanuk.
Dhanuk’s “imambara” has a name also. “It is popularly known as Kishnu Khalifa imambara” situated in Naka Hindola locality in Lucknow, a proud Dhanuk said while speaking to Deccan Herald here. The “imambara” is flocked by Hindus and Muslims both, who observe Moharram by offering prayers and holding majlis in which men and women chant and weep, mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hasan and their followers.
“There is a huge rush of Muslim and Hindu azadars (people, who take part in mourning) on the seventh and the tenth days of ‘Moharram’ as these two are the most important dates”, he says.
Dhanuk’s is the third generation in his family, who religiously observe “Moharram.” “I have seen my father and grandfather doing the same during their days,” he said.
“Lucknow is the city of tehzeeb (courtesy). It’s an example in Hindu-Muslim unity since the days of the nawabs,” Dhanuk said. All members of his family take part in the Moharram processions and mournings.
“My mission is to promote Hindu-Muslim unity. We can do so by taking part in each other’s religious programmes and sharing their joys and sorrows,” he says. Dhanuk is certain that his coming generations will also follow him.