Modipara tazia: A mark of communal harmony
Though the people of Muslim community observe this to mourn and pay homage to Hassan and Hussein, who became martyrs (about 680 AD) in Karbala desert in Arabia, the Hindu family does it as they believe it as their family tradition.
WHEN THE country’s peace has been disturbed because of communal violence between two communities, here in Sambalpur, a Hindu family brings tazia during Muharrum every year over the past four generations. Though the people of Muslim community observe this to mourn and pay homage to Hassan and Hussein, who became martyrs (about 680 AD) in Karbala desert in Arabia, the Hindu family does it as they believe it as their family tradition.
The tazia is a replica of the mausoleum dedicated to the martyr duo, which is made with Bamboo sticks, coloured papers and fabric. But the Modipara tazia that is brought by the Hindu family is commonly known as ’Hindu tazia’ where people of Hindu community usually participate.
When it is talk of communal harmony between Hindu and Muslim, there is no better example than Sambalpur where an orthodox Brahmin family performs tazia procession during Muharrum every year over the past four generations. Although this is purely a Muslim event, but people of Hindu community participate in this tazia which is familiar as ‘Modipara tazia’. Though it is distinguished from its custom and colour, still it goes round the street along with other tazias of Muslim community.
Lalmohan Padhiary belongs to a Brahmin family which resides at Modipara who performs the tazia procession during Muharrum in Sambalpur. Though the family has a temple and his brother works as the priest of the temple, Lalmohan never forgets to bring Tazia procession during Muharrum as he feels it as tradition of the Padhiary family.
Lalmohan Padhiary belongs to a Brahmin family which resides at Modipara who performs the tazia procession during Muharrum in Sambalpur. Though the family has a temple and his brother works as the priest of the temple, Lalmohan never forgets to bring Tazia procession during Muharrum as he feels it as tradition of the Padhiary family.
“I have been performing the rituals since the days of my childhood and after the death of my father I have taken up the responsibility to bring out the tazia procession every year without fail as it has been a tradition of our family since a long time. This is 346th years of event we undertook this year on Friday (December 17), morning,” Lalmohan Padhiary said.
Though, he belongs to a conservative Brahmin family of the town, Lalmohan does not see any difference in the functions of the two religions because of his participation in the event since his childhood. “We are taught to give equal importance to the functions of both religions since our childhood and this is what we are doing now”, Padhiary said.
On the basis of the sources and documents available with the family, Padhiary revealed that tazia procession was first organised by his family during 1664, when one of the fore fathers, Jayadev Padhiary reappeared in Sambalpur after missing for more than 15 years and wished to bring tazia procession.
On the basis of the sources and documents available with the family, Padhiary revealed that tazia procession was first organised by his family during 1664, when one of the fore fathers, Jayadev Padhiary reappeared in Sambalpur after missing for more than 15 years and wished to bring tazia procession.
Since the family members had already considered him dead, his coming back had made everyone happy for which they didn’t want to discourage him. But it was the conservative locals who opposed considering it anti-religious. But thanks to than ruler of Sambalpur, who had not only supported the family for this noble idea but also he had pleased to allot a piece of land near by the house. The gifted plot of land which is known as tazia ground inside the Modipara has been witnessing Tazia procession every year till date. The Modipara tazia that begins from this ground starts with puja and breaking of coconut as per Hindu tradition. The top of the tazia which normally covers with green colour as it is considered auspicious for Muslims becomes red in case of Modipara tazia.
“During my childhood I experienced the tazia procession with my grandfather Sukdev Padhiary and after his death with my father Gouranga Padhiary took up the responsibility. So since childhood, I considered it as our family tradition. Now I don’t feel any difference between the festivals of both communities. I feel the same feeling when I go to masque or a temple,” Lalmohan said. His brother Rajendra who resides in the same house with Lalmohan feels proud of his brother.
On the other hand, the decoration of tazia is executed by the Taria family that also belongs to Hindu community. “Every year I decorate Modipara tazia, though it is a Muslim ritual. I never feel any difference in doing this,” Laxmi Dutta Taria said.
“During my childhood I experienced the tazia procession with my grandfather Sukdev Padhiary and after his death with my father Gouranga Padhiary took up the responsibility. So since childhood, I considered it as our family tradition. Now I don’t feel any difference between the festivals of both communities. I feel the same feeling when I go to masque or a temple,” Lalmohan said. His brother Rajendra who resides in the same house with Lalmohan feels proud of his brother.
On the other hand, the decoration of tazia is executed by the Taria family that also belongs to Hindu community. “Every year I decorate Modipara tazia, though it is a Muslim ritual. I never feel any difference in doing this,” Laxmi Dutta Taria said.
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