An integral part of Muharram rituals, ‘Alam’ is installed in ‘Shahanshin’, where ‘Jari’ and ‘Tazia’ are kept in public and domestic Imambaras. They are also taken out in processions.
The ‘Taziya’ and ‘Zari’ are replicas of the shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala, Iraq.
,Alam‘This day marks the eternal triumph of Imam Hussain as well as grief, as his head was raised on spears along with the heads of other martyrs and paraded from city to city.
The tragedy of Karbala took place in 680 AD, when 30 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad, a tyrannical Umayyad king, Yazid, declared himself the Caliph of Islam. He demanded loyalty from Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, by asking for his hand in marriage, as the custom of submission was prevalent at that time.
However, rather than succumb to the tyrannical, unjust and immoral rule of Yazid, Imam Hussain sacrificed his head and those of his 72 followers in the battle fought on the 10th day of the month of Muharram at Karbala, Iraq, in 61 AH (October 10, 680 AD).
To show that Hussain’s hand was raised higher than Yazid’s hand, a metal symbol of a human hand called ‘Alam’ is placed on a decorated wooden mace.
The human hand sign of five also symbolises belief in the Holy Five – Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussein.
In current military language, ‘Alam’ means flag, banner or colour assigned to a combat unit. In Islamic tradition, the bearer of this flag is called ‘Alambardar’. There have been three great flag bearers in Islamic history – Maula Ali, father of Imam Hussain, Hazrat Jafar, brother of Ali, and Hazrat Abbas, second son of Maula Ali.
Like Ali, both Jafar and Abbas were synonymous with valour and victory. However, Jafar lost both his hands in the ‘Jung-e-Maota’ (Battle of Maota). According to Islamic legend, in heaven, Allah bestowed him with two feathers of ‘zamrud’ (emerald), which is why Jafar’s ‘alam’ is completely green, with two feather-shaped insignias on top.
The ‘Alam’ of Abbas who lost both his hands in the battle of Karbala is now the main ‘Alam’. A small ‘Mashk’ made of cloth is attached to this ‘Alam’ when he was trying to give his ‘Mashk’ (water bag) to the thirsty children of Hussain. It commemorates his tireless but unsuccessful efforts to provide water to the children of Hussain who were thirsty for three days as Yazid’s army had stopped the water supply for Hussain and his followers.
The enemy’s arrow pierced Abbas’s waterskin and the water meant for Hussein’s thirsty children flowed onto the sands of Karbala. Since then the waterskin has become a part of Abbas’s flag.
The name of this ‘mask’ is ‘Mask-e-Sakina’ which is the water bag of Imam Hussain’s four-year-old daughter Sakina which he gave to her uncle Abbas to fetch water for the thirsty children.
Abbas’ ‘Alam’ has five basic components – the ‘Chad’ (wooden mace), the ‘Faraira’ (triangular flag-like cloth attached to this mace), the ‘Patka’ (rectangular flag decorated with gold and silver embroidery), the ‘Mashq’ (symbolic water bag) and the ‘Panja’ (sacred hand symbol).
Initially the ‘alam’ consisted only of a light green ‘faraira’, but now it is black or white with red markings spread across it symbolising Abbas’ blood.
The word ‘patka’ was added to ‘alam’ later. Perhaps, the practice of Muslim courts and royal processions carrying rectangular banners decorated with verses from the Quran spread to the Muharram ‘alam’.
In the movie ‘razia sultan‘, filmmaker Kamal Amrohi has shown similar banners captured by the Sultanate army. Similarly, a hall in Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort has ‘Alam’-like banners attached to cloth-wrapped maces. ‘Patka’-like banners are also used in religious processions of Christian monasteries in Iraq, Syria, Central Asia and Europe.
Muslim states in India, especially the Shia rulers of Awadh, Murshidabad, Bengal, Hyderabad, RampurAnd Mahmudabad added a royal flavour to the ‘Azadari’ (Muharram rituals).
Alam and Patkas made of precious metals were also decorated like royal flags.
The relationship between Indian and Islamic traditions in India has been mutually enriching. The minaret atop the Badal Mahal in Jaisalmer is called the ‘Tazia Tower’ because it resembles the ‘Tazia’ taken out during Muharram.
During Muharram, such ‘Alams’ are displayed annually in public and private Imambaras across the subcontinent.
Over time, the design, motif and size of the sacred hand insignia of ‘Alam’ changed.
Apart from other unusual specimens, the ‘Taimuri Alam’ from Mahmudabad Fort Imambara is a rare antique.
Similarly, in Patna, Bihar, full-length alams are installed in the Imambaras of Nawab Luft Ali Khan and Badshah Nawab Saheb, which have now become rare. Only four such alams can be seen in Lucknow.
These are installed in Qasr-e-Hussaini, New Najaf, Agha Baker’s Imambara and the Ghariali Imambara in Chowk.
In Iraq and Iran the giant ‘Alam’ is carried on a roller stand.
Historian’s Family Imambara Rana Safvi In Jalali town of Aligarh and Shamshabad in Farrukhabad, the fine details of the embroidered ‘patkas’ have been preserved for generations.
Exquisite traditional ‘Patka’ and ‘Awaazi Alam’ (precious stones hanging on either side of the emblem) can be seen at the Imambara of Deputy Azim Saheb at Sultan Palace in Wazirganj, Lucknow.
Ammar-i-Yasir, a historian of Awadh, has a fascinating collection of various ancient ‘Alams’. His explanation of the writings is equally interesting.
‘Par-e-Buraq’, ‘Jangi Alam’, ‘Do Saifi’, ‘Naiza’, ‘Nishan’, ‘Tughra Alam’ (grilled calligraphy), ‘Alam-e-Mahi (fish), ‘Taus’ (peacock), ‘Sher Daha’ (lion head), ‘Zarichi’ (wooden ‘patka’), ‘Safai-e-Birangi’ (fine rice like fringe), ‘Do Saifi’, ‘Kishore Saifi‘ (double and triple swords), ‘Panja’, ‘Julikaari’ and ‘Avezi Alam’ are the names given to their designs.
‘Zulfqariya Alam’ can be seen on the stepped platform of the Kala Imambara in Lucknow.
The insignia of the holy hand of ‘Alam’ is also a symbolic participatory appeal. In the ‘Majlis’ of Muharram, people raise both their hands and chant ‘Labbaik Ya Hussain’ (Yes Hussain, we are with you).
In India, three major processions are notable during the main 10 days of Muharram. ‘Bibi ka Alam’ in Hyderabad, Telangana and ‘Alam Fatahe Furat’ and Alam Shab-e-Ashura’ in Lucknow. Muharram gatherings in Srinagar, Zadibal, Budgam and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir are also important.
The ‘Taziya’ and ‘Zari’ are replicas of the shrine of Imam Hussain in Karbala, Iraq.
,Alam‘This day marks the eternal triumph of Imam Hussain as well as grief, as his head was raised on spears along with the heads of other martyrs and paraded from city to city.
The tragedy of Karbala took place in 680 AD, when 30 years after the death of Prophet Muhammad, a tyrannical Umayyad king, Yazid, declared himself the Caliph of Islam. He demanded loyalty from Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, by asking for his hand in marriage, as the custom of submission was prevalent at that time.
However, rather than succumb to the tyrannical, unjust and immoral rule of Yazid, Imam Hussain sacrificed his head and those of his 72 followers in the battle fought on the 10th day of the month of Muharram at Karbala, Iraq, in 61 AH (October 10, 680 AD).
To show that Hussain’s hand was raised higher than Yazid’s hand, a metal symbol of a human hand called ‘Alam’ is placed on a decorated wooden mace.
The human hand sign of five also symbolises belief in the Holy Five – Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan and Hussein.
In current military language, ‘Alam’ means flag, banner or colour assigned to a combat unit. In Islamic tradition, the bearer of this flag is called ‘Alambardar’. There have been three great flag bearers in Islamic history – Maula Ali, father of Imam Hussain, Hazrat Jafar, brother of Ali, and Hazrat Abbas, second son of Maula Ali.
Like Ali, both Jafar and Abbas were synonymous with valour and victory. However, Jafar lost both his hands in the ‘Jung-e-Maota’ (Battle of Maota). According to Islamic legend, in heaven, Allah bestowed him with two feathers of ‘zamrud’ (emerald), which is why Jafar’s ‘alam’ is completely green, with two feather-shaped insignias on top.
The ‘Alam’ of Abbas who lost both his hands in the battle of Karbala is now the main ‘Alam’. A small ‘Mashk’ made of cloth is attached to this ‘Alam’ when he was trying to give his ‘Mashk’ (water bag) to the thirsty children of Hussain. It commemorates his tireless but unsuccessful efforts to provide water to the children of Hussain who were thirsty for three days as Yazid’s army had stopped the water supply for Hussain and his followers.
The enemy’s arrow pierced Abbas’s waterskin and the water meant for Hussein’s thirsty children flowed onto the sands of Karbala. Since then the waterskin has become a part of Abbas’s flag.
The name of this ‘mask’ is ‘Mask-e-Sakina’ which is the water bag of Imam Hussain’s four-year-old daughter Sakina which he gave to her uncle Abbas to fetch water for the thirsty children.
Abbas’ ‘Alam’ has five basic components – the ‘Chad’ (wooden mace), the ‘Faraira’ (triangular flag-like cloth attached to this mace), the ‘Patka’ (rectangular flag decorated with gold and silver embroidery), the ‘Mashq’ (symbolic water bag) and the ‘Panja’ (sacred hand symbol).
Initially the ‘alam’ consisted only of a light green ‘faraira’, but now it is black or white with red markings spread across it symbolising Abbas’ blood.
The word ‘patka’ was added to ‘alam’ later. Perhaps, the practice of Muslim courts and royal processions carrying rectangular banners decorated with verses from the Quran spread to the Muharram ‘alam’.
In the movie ‘razia sultan‘, filmmaker Kamal Amrohi has shown similar banners captured by the Sultanate army. Similarly, a hall in Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort has ‘Alam’-like banners attached to cloth-wrapped maces. ‘Patka’-like banners are also used in religious processions of Christian monasteries in Iraq, Syria, Central Asia and Europe.
Muslim states in India, especially the Shia rulers of Awadh, Murshidabad, Bengal, Hyderabad, RampurAnd Mahmudabad added a royal flavour to the ‘Azadari’ (Muharram rituals).
Alam and Patkas made of precious metals were also decorated like royal flags.
The relationship between Indian and Islamic traditions in India has been mutually enriching. The minaret atop the Badal Mahal in Jaisalmer is called the ‘Tazia Tower’ because it resembles the ‘Tazia’ taken out during Muharram.
During Muharram, such ‘Alams’ are displayed annually in public and private Imambaras across the subcontinent.
Over time, the design, motif and size of the sacred hand insignia of ‘Alam’ changed.
Apart from other unusual specimens, the ‘Taimuri Alam’ from Mahmudabad Fort Imambara is a rare antique.
Similarly, in Patna, Bihar, full-length alams are installed in the Imambaras of Nawab Luft Ali Khan and Badshah Nawab Saheb, which have now become rare. Only four such alams can be seen in Lucknow.
These are installed in Qasr-e-Hussaini, New Najaf, Agha Baker’s Imambara and the Ghariali Imambara in Chowk.
In Iraq and Iran the giant ‘Alam’ is carried on a roller stand.
Historian’s Family Imambara Rana Safvi In Jalali town of Aligarh and Shamshabad in Farrukhabad, the fine details of the embroidered ‘patkas’ have been preserved for generations.
Exquisite traditional ‘Patka’ and ‘Awaazi Alam’ (precious stones hanging on either side of the emblem) can be seen at the Imambara of Deputy Azim Saheb at Sultan Palace in Wazirganj, Lucknow.
Ammar-i-Yasir, a historian of Awadh, has a fascinating collection of various ancient ‘Alams’. His explanation of the writings is equally interesting.
‘Par-e-Buraq’, ‘Jangi Alam’, ‘Do Saifi’, ‘Naiza’, ‘Nishan’, ‘Tughra Alam’ (grilled calligraphy), ‘Alam-e-Mahi (fish), ‘Taus’ (peacock), ‘Sher Daha’ (lion head), ‘Zarichi’ (wooden ‘patka’), ‘Safai-e-Birangi’ (fine rice like fringe), ‘Do Saifi’, ‘Kishore Saifi‘ (double and triple swords), ‘Panja’, ‘Julikaari’ and ‘Avezi Alam’ are the names given to their designs.
‘Zulfqariya Alam’ can be seen on the stepped platform of the Kala Imambara in Lucknow.
The insignia of the holy hand of ‘Alam’ is also a symbolic participatory appeal. In the ‘Majlis’ of Muharram, people raise both their hands and chant ‘Labbaik Ya Hussain’ (Yes Hussain, we are with you).
In India, three major processions are notable during the main 10 days of Muharram. ‘Bibi ka Alam’ in Hyderabad, Telangana and ‘Alam Fatahe Furat’ and Alam Shab-e-Ashura’ in Lucknow. Muharram gatherings in Srinagar, Zadibal, Budgam and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir are also important.
