Believers Celebrate Ashura (Video)

On October 12^th  Azerbaijani Shiites mark the main mourning - Ashura. All mosques hold ceremonies and read prayers.

The mourning is associated with the tragic death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the son of Imam Ali, near Karbala, Iraq in 680 AD.

On Ashura the believers mourn Imam Hussein and his supporters, who were killed in an unequal battle with the forces of Umayyad. Mosques read special prayers - Khutbah, people dress in black and beat their breasts (which symbolizes the willingness to give their lives for Islam), and perform funeral chants, while mournful music is sounded.

In some regions, the Shiites inflict wounds with a sword or chains to themselves.

In mosques believers also perform the ceremony Shahsey-Vahsey, symbolizing the tragic death of Hussein and his supporters.

On the streets of Baku impromptu funeral ceremonies can be seen, where everyone can participate in Ehsan - religious meal consisting of tea and sweets. -02D-