They are...

They are: • organizing public processions and marches • roaming in streets to express loyalty to and grief for Imam al-Husayn (‘a) • holding theatrical performances aimed at representing some aspects of Imam al-Husayn’s tragic saga—his journey to Karbala, the burning of the tents of the women and children after massacring his companions, the journey of those who were taken as captives after the battle, or other grievous events to which Imam al-Husayn (‘a) was exposed—or all the events that took place in Karbala All of the above are inventions of ordinary people to express their emotions and feelings.[^3] On the tenth day of Muharram, these rituals and ceremonies attain their climax when markets are shut down and almost all the individuals of the virtuous community participate in the condolence ceremonies and food is prepared to feed all the participants.

Each ten days of these two months are taken as a new term similar to the first ten days of Muharram, dedicating each day and night to a certain occasion for which its special ceremonies are held. These terms end on the twentieth of Safar, the day of Arba’in, which is the fortieth day after Imam al-Husayn’s martyrdom.

Hence, the last ten days are dedicated to the occasion of the arrival of the captives in Madinah, followed by the demise of the Holy Prophet (S), which falls on the twenty-eighth day of Safar and which we shall mention later. The general mark of the ceremonies held on the rest of the days of Muharram and Safar is the holding of assemblies ( majalis ; sing. majlis ).

The ceremonies on the day of Arba’in, include processions and marches organized and destined for the two holy shrines in Karbala, Imam al-Ridha’s holy shrine in Mashhad, the shrine of Lady Fatimah, the daughter of Imam Musa al-Kazim (‘a) in Qum, or for public places of worship, such as mosques, Husayniyyahs, and religious places.

These processions and marches are organized for the purpose of commemorating Imam al-Husayn’s martyrdom, pledging allegiance to him, and commemorating the anniversary of the captives’ return to Karbala, as maintained by some reports. 3.