Scenes of emotional outpouring were observed in multitudes as hundreds of men and women from the Dawoodi Bohra (Shabab) community witnessed their leaders performing Waaz on Aashura, the 10^th of Moharram.  The 52^nd Dai-Ul-Mutlaq, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin and his son and successor Syedi Mufaddal Bhai Sahab Saifuddin got together to address lakhs of followers.

The Waaz was broadcast live at Masjids in Udaipur and various other cities with Bohra populace.  It is believed by the Bohra people that to hear a speech from the Syedna is considered no less than a blessing to their followers.

The 19-year old grandson of Bohra spiritual leader, Shehzada Abde Ali bin Shujauddin Bhaisaab addressed the first 10-days of Moharram in Udaipur and yesterday on Ashura 5 December, 2011 a mass gathering was witnessed in Bohrawadi.

Shehzada Abde Ali narrated the heart touching event of Karbala and the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S) and his family members including Hazrat Abbas Ibn Ali, Hazrat Ali Akbar Ibn Hussain, Hazrat Ali Asghar Ibn Hussain, Hazrat Qasim Ibn Hassan, etc.

As a tradition, the member of the Bohra community observed a day long fast to commemorate the sacrifices of the Ahl-Al-Bayt (family of the Prophet SAWS).

Imam Hussain (A.S) is globally considered as the highest martyrs and been acknowledged by various non-muslim personalities too.

Mahatma Gandhi, The father of the Nation had said, “I have learnt from Imam Hussain on how to achieve victory while being oppressed.”

Charles Dickens – novelist said, ‘If Hussain had fought to quench his worldly desires…then I do not understand why his sister, wife, and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore, that he sacrificed purely for Islam.”

Nearly one million strong Dawoodi Bohras of the world are a flourishing community well known as traders, who took their roots from Egypt’s Fatimid Dynasty which is connected to Shia Ismaili Sect; later split into several sub-sects till the community settled in India. Photos by: Abul Fazal Badshah