Muharram marks the starting of the Islamic New Year and is the first month of the year as per the Islamic calendar that starts on July 31, 2022. Muharram is one of the four most sacred months in Islam that holds great importance among Muslims across the world. The word ‘Muharram’ is derived from the ‘haram’ which means forbidden and is the month of mourning.

The 10^th day of Muharram is called as Ashura and is known for being a period of mourning when the martyrdom of Imam Husain, a son of Hazrat Ali and the grandson of Prophet Mohammad in the battle of Karbala is commemorated as a Day of Ashura in the 10^th Muharram. Shia Muslims recreate the grief and pain that are suffered by Imam Husain and their family members as Majlis during the first ten days of Muharram. In the month of Muharram, the Shia individuals wear black clothes in majlis and participate in processions (juloos). During the month of Muharram, several Muslims may also observe fast on the 9^th and 10^th days of the Muharram.

Shia Muslims wear black clothes and participate in street processions as a way of mourning the death (shaheed) of Imam Husain and their family members. On the Day of Ashura, Muslims belong to various communities observe the 10^th Muharram in many ways, some observe fast and many participate in religious gatherings.