Azadari in Lucknow

Azadari in Lucknow or Mourning in Lucknow, is name of the practices related to mourning and commemoration of the anniversary of the death of Imam Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680,[1] particularly in period of Muharram (in the Indian sub-continent Muharram in the context of remembrance of the events of Karbala means the period of two months & eight days i.e. 68 days starting from the evening of 29 Zill-Hijjah and ending on the evening of 8 Rabi-al-Awwal[2]) and in general round the year.

Sleeman, who spent considerable time in Lucknow notes that the Shias and the Sunnis participated with equal enthusiasm in practices of Muharram.

After which a four-member committee under the chairmanship of Justice T. C. Piggot, an ICS officer and a judge of High Court was formed to look into the matter.

[6][7][8] The Sunnis were dissatisfied with the decision of Government to adhere to suggestions made in Allsop Committee report and started a civil disobedience movement.

The next day, bricks were thrown at a Shia Tazia procession in Patanala; 10 people were killed and several dozens injured.

[6][7][8] After negotiations with Sunnis, the Congress Government issued, on 31 March 1939, a communique which stated that "the Sunnis will in any circumstances be given the opportunity of reciting Madhe-Sahaba at a public meeting, and in a procession every year on the barawafat day subject to the condition that the time, place and route thereof shall be fixed by district authorities."

[10] After unrest in the earlier part of the year, a riot occurred on 26 May 1969 after a Shia procession was brick-batted from a Sunni mosque near Mahmood Nagar.

[14] [15][16][17][18] Following is list of notable Imambaras, Dargahs, Karbalas and Rauzas: Alam-e-Fateh-e-Furat originates from the Daryawali Masjid behind Medical College in late evening.

In 1361(AH) to mark the 1300 years of the event of Karbala in memory of Imam Husain, a committee was formed by the name of Yaadgaray Husaini and this procession in that year was named as Yaadgaray Husaini but after the dissolution of the committee in 1939, Qaiser Husain Rizvi again took the responsibility and since then it is popularly known as Alam e Shab e Ashur.

Following his death in 1971 his nephews continued this tradition up till now.This procession starts from Imambada Nazim Sahab and ends at Dargah Abbas (Rustam Nagar)at around close to early morning.

Thousands of mourners gather here to visit the "Qaid Khana" and to pay tribute to Bibi Saiyyada Sakina.