VIJAYAWADA: Youm-e-Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, was marked with a great sense of solemnity, and somberness in Koneru Center at Machilipatnam of Krishna district on Saturday to pay homage to Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was martyred in Karbala in the 7th century.
The devout Shias in large numbers joined in the self-flagellation and chest-beating ritual in mourning and to show solidarity with Imam Hussain and his companions who were martyred at Karbala. The oldest Koneru centre turned red with the blood of chest-beating people attired in black dresses. There are two groups in the Shia community in Machilipatnam and they both observed the Ashura rituals
Telugu Desam leaders and cadres led by former minister Kollu Ravindra and YSR Congress leaders and activists led by YSRC youth leader Perni Krishnamurthy (Kittu) joined the procession and recalled the sacrifice of Hussain and others in Karbala ground. TD and YSRC leaders distributed lime juice and buttermilk to the participants of the procession at the Koneru centre.
Meanwhile, special prayers and meetings were held in various Mosques in Vijayawada and Guntur cities and a Muharram procession was held in the Punja center at Vijayawada in which Muslims in large numbers participated.
