A minority community of Shia Muslims of Udaipur commemorated the 10^th Day of Muharram, known as Ashura by self flagellation and chest beating ritual held at the compound of Shia Masjid, Hathipol. [This Post Contains Graphic Images]

Young men hit their bare backs with razor sharp knives attached with chains, while others beat their chests remembering the sacrifice and death of Imam Hussain, Grandson of Prophet Muhammad who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala on 680 AD, some 1400 years back.

Though the ritual of self flagellation, known as Zanzeer ka Matam has no religious statute as such, but has some significance in the history and tradition of Shiaism.

The ritual is more attached to the emotional side of a devotee who remembers the grief and pain of Imam Hussain and his 72 companions, including a 6 months old infant, who were deprived of water in the desert of Karbala by the army of Yazeed.

At evening, a group of men dressed in black clothes as a sign of mourning marched through Swaroop Sagar Lake holding Alam and Tazia. Few men from the group were narrating the story of Karbala in poetic way all through the march and beating their chests.

Day of Ashura will be concluded with a majlis of Sham-e-Gariba at Masjid where the aftermath of Karbala will be recounted by the religious head of the community.