H-M synthesis in Andhra Pradesh: Hindus join Muslims in observing Muharram

ADILABAD/KARIMNAGAR/SANGAREDDY: In a rare display of communal harmony, Hindu and Muslim families observed Moharam by mourning the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed and took out Muharram (peerlu) procession at several places across Adilabad, Karimnagar and Medak districts in Telangana region here today.
The festival marks the beginning of the first month of Islamic calendar. Thousands of devotees participated in the festivities and offered prayers. Interestingly, Hindus celebrated the festival on a grand scale in Ruyyadi village of Talamadugu mandal. Villagers say that they strongly feel that they have been blessed for observing the festival every year while Muslims feel that Hindus observing Moharam signifies camaraderie and brotherhood between the two communities.
Most of the Hindus offer prayers to ‘alam’ which are taken out in procession believing that their problems would be solved.
In Medak district, the festival was observed in various towns, including Sangareddy, Medak, Siddipet, Sadasivapet and Zaheerabad.
Police made foolproof security arrangements to prevent untoward incidents.
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article88229.ece

Similarly the chapter titled The Cry for Hussain that focuses on Andhra Pradesh, explains how Moharram had metamorphosed into something entirely different and is ‘celebrated’ in every village and town in Telengana, Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh. Dwelling on how a period of mourning mutated into a joyous celebration, Naqvi cites a Moharram song written by Balaiah, a Telugu folk poet: “Recite in the name of Allah/ Then the Devata will bless you”.


http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/in-good-faith/304/46435/

Muharram is also known as Peerla Panduga festival in the state of Andhra Pradesh. This is a festival that is celebrated predominantly in the Telangana district of Andhra Pradesh. Muharram is a festival of processions. During this time the relic called Alam is taken out on procession. The highlight of this festival is that the procession is taken out in the region dominated by Hindu regions in the Telangana district. Ashurkhana, a group of Sufi Shrines, is the area around which the procession takes place. A lot of Muslims take part in the procession. The best part of this festival is that even Hindus take part in this festival. Hindus and Muslims keep chanting Ya Hussain as they participate in this procession.
In Dabeerpura, Hindus are alambardaar, meaning standard bearer at the world famous shrine, Bibi Ka Alawa. Lots of Hindus worship the holy relic or the Alam as they believe that a darshan of this alam gives them a peace of mind. The basic idea of this festival is that hope is the only standard concept which is beyond all religions. Hindus treat this relic as their own Gods and Goddesses. On the special day of Muharram, lots of Hindus visit Sufi shrines that are strewn all over the place. Peerla Panduga is an occasion of sorrow and the Hindu devotees appreciate the sentiments of their Islamic colleagues and participate solemnly in the procession.
The Badeshahi Ashurkhana which has a rich 400 year old history in the state witnesses the maximum amount of crowds during the festival. Around 4000 Hindus visit this shrine every year. Especially during the 9th and 10th day of the festival, this shrine has lots of pilgrims from all religions flocking the place to seek blessings of the Alam, which is known as Panjitan -e - Pak, believed to house five souls of the Great Prophet Muhammad and his family. This festival is known for its rich Islamic culture and the way the Hindus embrace the procession for many years now.
This festival and especially the way it is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh has caught the attention of many researchers all over the globe and every year, there are many foreign tourists who come to the state to witness the proceedings of the festivals. These tourists are mostly students or researchers who come to study the festival in great detail. On the final day, the Alam is carried on top of the elephant and taken on a procession and this is the main festival that attracts lots of devotees internationally and locally.
Usually the procession travels for a distance of around 6km. The origin of the procession is from Bibi ka Alawa and the destination is Masjid-e-Ilahi. The procession starts in the afternoon at around 1PM. After the procession reaches the famous Charminar, the pilgrims engage in activities of mourning like beating their back with their hands or chains and then moves to Bargah -e -Fatima. Other ancient shrines like Nala-e-Mubarak are also covered in this religious procession.

http://www.discoveredindia.com/andhra-pradesh/festival-in-andhra-pradesh/state-festivals/peerla-panduga.htm