Mumbai, June 26: Muharram (Ashura) was observed with reverence and tranquility across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, on Friday. People adhered to religious traditions in both urban and rural areas of the state.
The day was marked as a government holiday in Maharashtra, leading to a significant halt in commercial activities statewide.
Trading was suspended at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE).
Banks across the state remained closed, and with the fourth Saturday and Sunday also being holidays, bank employees enjoyed a continuous three-day break.
Government offices, municipal corporations, schools, and colleges in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, and Nagpur were also closed.
The Shia community observed this day with deep respect and mourning. Traditional Tazia processions were held along designated routes in areas like Bhendi Bazaar, Dongri, and Crawford Market in South Mumbai.
Dressed in black, participants remembered the martyrdom of Imam Hussein in the Battle of Karbala during the Majlis gatherings.
Meanwhile, members of the Sunni community observed fasts in various locations, performed special prayers in mosques, and extended help to those in need.
In line with local traditions, several Sabeels were set up along the procession routes, offering water, milk, and sweet sherbet to passersby.
To manage the crowds during the afternoon and evening processions, Mumbai police, along with traffic police from Pune and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), implemented preemptive traffic changes.
Extensive security arrangements were made by the police to ensure that the processions concluded peacefully, without affecting emergency services or public transport.
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