Moharram observances begin: Dawoodi Bohras attend Ashara Mubaraka sermons in Chennai

Hyderabad: The Dawoodi Bohra community has commenced the annual Ashara Mubaraka sermons in Chennai to mark the beginning of Moharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, observed as a period of deep mourning and reflection.

The sermons are being delivered by the community’s spiritual head, His Holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, attracting Dawoodi Bohras from around the world.

What is Moharram?

For Muslims across sects, Moharram signifies the beginning of the Hijri year.

For the Dawoodi Bohra community, it is particularly significant due to the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala.

The first ten days of the month, culminating on the 10th day (Yaum-e-Ashura), are marked by daily sermons and gatherings that recount the values Imam Hussain stood for — sacrifice, truth, and justice.

Global attendance with Chennai as the central venue

Chennai has been designated as the central venue for the 1447H Ashara Mubaraka. The main congregation, held at a specially prepared site in the city, has drawn around 43,000 attendees from across India and overseas, including from the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Relay centres across India and Sri Lanka

With the central sermons being relayed live to 30+ cities, participation has reached an estimated 2.5 lakh people. Notable relay centre figures include:

• Indore – 81,199 attendees

• Ratlam – 21,000

• Ujjain – 20,000

• Colombo (Sri Lanka) – 15,000

• Bangalore – 12,000

• Secunderabad – 11,000

• Hyderabad – 10,084

Other South Indian cities such as Coimbatore (4,500), Vizag (3,000), Cochin (650), Calicut (1,000) and Erode (1,200) have also hosted large gatherings. Smaller centres like Mysore, Kurnool, Salem, and Sarangpur have participated actively through organised relay setups.

Security and logistics

The community has coordinated with local authorities for crowd management, accommodation, health facilities, and food arrangements. Volunteers from the Dawoodi Bohra community have been working around the clock to ensure smooth operations both at the central venue in Chennai and in relay locations.

Digital infrastructure and app support

Technology has played a key role in managing logistics and attendance. Through the MumineenApp, users have been receiving live updates, radio broadcasts, and schedules to facilitate access to sermons.

As the Ashara sermons continue through the first ten days of Moharram, the Dawoodi Bohra community remains focused on spiritual reflection, communal harmony, and the remembrance of Karbala. With thousands gathered in Chennai and more connected via relay centres, this year’s observance is one of the largest in recent memory for the Bohra faithful.