New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS) As thousands of Muslims Tuesday took out Tazia processions on the occasion of Muharram, massive jams were reported from various parts of the city in the evening.
As several arterial roads which witnessed the processions were choked, traffic spilled over to adjacent roads and caused huge jams.
According to Delhi Traffic Police, major snarls were reported from Lodhi Colony, Safdarjung flyover, Mehrauli, Khanpur in south Delhi, Punjabi Bagh in north Delhi, Dabri and Peeragarhi in west Delhi and the central Delhi shopping and business hub of Connaught Place.
The processions were taken out between mosques — from Shia Jama Masjid in Kashmere Gate to Punja Sharif Karbala in the same locality and from Pahari Bhojla in Chittqualam near the historic Jama Masjid to Karbala in Jorbagh off Lodhi Road.
‘I’ve been stuck here for the last two hours and I’ve moved only a couple of feet. I came to Connaught Place to have fun with friends as it was a holiday, but it’s all gone down the drain,’ cribbed 24-year-old Anshuman Singh, an MBA student.
On Muharram, Muslims take out large processions and mourn the killing of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, who was martyred some 1,330 years ago at Karbala in Iraq on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram.
Holding flags and dressed in black, men and women, mostly belonging to the Shia sect — who along with Sunnis make up India’s 140 million Muslims — took out processions, crying and beating their chests in the ceremonial ‘maatam’ or mourning ritual.
Delhi Police had put in place security measures to ensure that the day passes off peacefully as it also coincided with the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition anniversary.
