Shiites mark Ashura

Early in the morning on November 25, tens of thousands of Shiites in Azerbaijan went to the mosque to attend the funeral ceremony of commemoration of Prophet Mohammed's grandson and son of Imam Ali - Imam Hussein. Particularly active were inhabitants of the south of the country, the Baku villages, where the positions of the faithful are especially strong. Around mosques are exhibited reinforced police units, and the roads are blocked for cars.

Reinforced police cordons are marked in the center of the "Blue" mosque where mostly Sunni prayers are exercised. However, the faithful are not allowed to the mosque. Apparently, the authorities are afraid of any challenge.

By tradition, work until noon is prohibited. On this day they hold commemorative feast (Ehsan) and tables can be seen on the streets, on which exhibited tea, sorbet and sweets for everyone.

In recent years, there appeared a tradition of donating blood at the entry of the mourning month of Muharram. Mosques organize he action on blood donation for the needy, and this ceremony is to replace the mystery of self-flagellation of believers with metal chains as a sign of mourning for Imam Hussein - Shakhsei-Wachsei.

The most numerous ceremonies are held in the mosques Taza Pir, Azhdarbey, Juma, Nardaran, and others.

* Ashura - the 10^th day of Muharram. On this day in they year 680, a small group of Imam Hussein fell in a battle near the city of Karbala with superior Umayyad troops. Since then, supporters of Imam Ali (founder of Shiism) mark Ashura as a general mourning.

Imam Hussein was against distortion of the foundations of Islam, which the Prophet Muhammad laid, by the Umayyads. This was reflected in the pursuit of a life of luxury at the expense of the poor underdogs and deepening social inequality.

In addition, in the month of Muharram and the following Safar month (within 40 days of the death of Hussein) Shiites refrain from weddings and other celebrations.