Tazia

Mohommedon Ceremonies In Ba, Fiji

By James Madhavan

MUHARRAM, commonly called Tazia in Fiji, is the first ten days of the month, observed by Mohammedans in commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein—who was the second son of Fatimah, daughter of the Prophet Mo hammed. According to Mohammedans, Hussein, to preserve his race, to pre-

serve his line of family and to protect his and his followers’ religious prin ciples, died a martyr on the plains of Kerbala, Persia, in A.D. 680.

The concluding ceremonies of Tazia were held at the Rarawai ground, Ba, Fiji, on April 17. They centred on a huge paper mausoleum, made of bamboos and bright-coloured papers, and pro fusely ornamented. This represents the actual mausoleum erected over the re mains of Hussein. The one made in Ba was 40 ft. high, and the bottom was 12 ft. square. At the top, there was a globular paperwork, which re volved on its axis.

About 500 persons took part in this annual celebration. Stalls were erect ed around the Tazia, music was sup plied by drummers, and priests con tinued their customary meditations and prayers. Stall-owners sold various kinds of Indian sweets. Sheds were erected wherein the people rested—for this last ed two days and two nights. The drum beaters stood in a semi-circle, close to the structure, and, while the fire was

The 40 ft. paper mausoleum made for the Tazia ceremonies.

lit, they kept on beating fearful war like tunes. The crowd gathered around the drummers, and some lamented and wept. The drummers were changed from time to time, for the music had to be kept going for 24 hours.

Finally, on Sunday afternoon, as the drummers played and men and women wailed, tffe paper mausoleum was car ried to the edge of the river and finally immersed in the water.