ling of Hussein and his followers occurred in the month called
Mooharram. This entire month and ten days of the following month are
observed as a time of lamentation for Hassan, Hussein and their
followers who were slain. During this period every man, woman and child
of the Shiite Moslems are under obligations to wear black garments. The
last ten days of Mooharram are observed in a fanatical spirit as a
revival of religion. This period is called Ashara, meaning ten days.
The first seven days are for preparation. The mosques will be crowded
with men and women. The Mas-ya-Khans, or revivalist priests, are in
charge of these services. Followed by a large procession this priest
goes to the mosque and mounting a high pulpit preaches to large crowds.
His general theme is tragic tales, stories of martyrs, the manner of
their death, their last utterances and the wailing and moaning of their
friends and relatives. Often in the concluding words of a pathetic
story, the entire audience, sometimes numbering thousands, will be
deeply moved and slapping their foreheads with the palms of their hands
will cry aloud to give vent to their emotions. The mosques cannot
accommodate all the worshipers during this period, so some parts of a
street are laid with carpets and rugs where the people sit while
listening to preaching.

The last three days are the most solemn. All the stores of the city are
closed and no business of any kind is transacted. At an early hour on
these days the whole population, except the old men and women who stay
at home to take care of young children, gather around the mosques. In
and near the mosque a national and a religious emblem are carried on a
pole by strong men. These are quite heavy and the standard bearers
change every few minutes. Headed by these emblems the large crowd,
often numbering 3,000 to 6,000 people will march through the streets.
Each company visits from one mosque to another. Passing through the
streets the men bearing the national and religious emblems are followed
by musicians playing mournful dirges with such instruments as drum,
flute, and cymbals. Surrounding the musicians are hundreds of men
marching with bare breasts, shouting "Hassan, Hussein Hassan, Hussein"
and pounding upon their breasts with bare hands. Following them is
another band surrounding a Say-yid a descendant of Ali, and all of them
are shouting "Hassan, Hussein" and beating their breasts. Next in the
procession comes a band