Muharram,
the forbidden month, is the opening month of the Hejira year. The 10th day
of the month is celebrated by the Sunnies as well as the Shias all over the
world. It was on this day that God is believed to have created Adam and Eve
and that the Pharoah of Egypt and his countrymen were drowned in the Red Sea
by the will of the Almighty. Again it was on this day that the most
lamentable carnage at Kerbala took place in 680 AD when Imman Hussain, the
grandson of the Prophet and his men met with their end in an agonising
manner. On this day the Jews observe fast. The Prophet enjoined on the
Muslims to observe fast on the ninth and tenth of Muharram. It was to
commemorate the victory of the Jews over Pharoah that fasting was enjoined
upon Muslims on these days. For the Shia Muslims, Muharram is an important
occasion for religious ceremony. The Sunni Muslims do not celebrate
Muharram, but the devout Muslims among them observe fast.
`Pulikali'
or `Tiger-dance' is part of this celebration in Kerala. Some Muslims assume
the guise of tiger by painting their whole body to bring out the appearance
of tiger, wear masks and parade through streets, playing, dancing and
mimicking a tiger. This is done to idealize the valour of Hussain.