Ashura procession on Bayswater Rd, London Jan 7, 2009
Ashura is a major religious festival for Shia Muslims, who mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammed, at the battle of Karbala in 61 AH (680 AD.) The procession in London is a part of the commemoration and mourners, largely dressed in black, walk along accompanied by the beating of drums and the wailing of horns, with a rhythmic ritual beating of their chests and chanting “Ya Hussain“.
The procession, on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, is just a part of an extended period of mourning for Hussain. Shia see the battle and martyrdom of Hussain as part of a wider struggle of good against evil, with Hussain representing freedom against tyranny and injustice.
You can see pictures from previous Ashura processions on My London Diary:
Today it was cold and rather dark as the procession of several thousands of
men, women and children left Hyde Park on their way to the Islamic Centre
in Kensington, and it was hard to get good pictures. Of course you can see what I managed on My London Diary.