Kerala elephant ‘Sreedevi’ to carry Bibi-ka-Alam during Hyderabad Muharram procession

An elephant named ‘Sreedevi’, brought from Kerala, will carry the historic Bibi-ka-Alam during Hyderabad’s Ashura procession. Preparations are underway across the city for Muharram observances, with authorities and organisers making arrangements for devotees and traditional ceremonies.

Hyderabad: An elephant from Kerala will carry the Bibi-ka-Alam during the Muharram procession to be taken out on Ashura, the tenth day of the month of Muharram.

The elephant, ‘Sreedevi’, was transported to the city from Kerala and has been housed at a designated location in the Old City by the organisers of the procession. A trial run will be conducted on Saturday to familiarise the elephant with the procession route.

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Muharram, the first month of the Islamic (Hijri) calendar, began on Tuesday night following the sighting of the new moon. The month holds immense significance in Islamic history, particularly because of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad.

The historic Battle of Karbala took place on the 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, in 61 Anno Hijri (AH), corresponding to October 10, 680 CE, at Karbala in present-day Iraq. Imam Hussain, along with his family members and loyal companions, was martyred in the battle while standing against injustice and tyranny.

The practice of installing the Bibi-ka-Alam dates back to the Qutb Shahi period, when Hayath Bakshi Begum, the wife of Muhammad Qutb Shah, installed an alam in memory of Bibi Fatima at Golconda. Later, during the Asaf Jahi era, the alam was shifted to Bibi-ka-Alawa at Dabeerpura, which was specially built for the purpose.

“The alam contains a piece of the wooden plank on which Bibi Fatima was given her final ablution before burial. The relic is believed to have reached Golconda from Karbala in Iraq during the reign of Golconda ruler Abdullah Qutb Shah,” said Syed Hamed Hussain Jaffery, president of the Shia Youth Conference.

In Shia-majority localities such as Darulshifa, Dabeerpura, Noor Khan Bazaar, Zehra Nagar and Rein Bazaar, ashurkhanas—designated spaces for mourning sessions and the installation of alams (standards)—have been readied to hold special prayers and other religious observances. The city’s Shia population is estimated at around four lakh, residing in the Old City, Moula Ali, Hayathnagar, Secunderabad and Rajendranagar.

“The Bibi-ka-Alam was installed on Tuesday night at Bibi-ka-Alawa, Dabeerpura, after the new moon marking the beginning of Muharram was sighted. The main procession will be taken out on the 10th day of Muharram, corresponding to Friday, June 26, in the traditional manner, with the alam carried on an elephant,” said Syed Ali Jaffry, an advocate. He added that the entire cost of bringing and maintaining the elephant is being borne by the Awqaf Committee of HEH The Nizam.

On Wednesday, Minister for Minorities Welfare Mohammed Azharuddin, along with officials of the concerned departments, visited Bibi-ka-Alawa and inspected the arrangements being made for devotees.