Ashura Festival Morocco

Morocco manifests myriad motifs and no where is it more evident that in the culture and customs of the Moroccans. Modern day Morocco is firmly rooted to its religious and traditional beliefs and various religious festivals in Morocco are a reflection of this fact. The Ashura Festival, Morocco is one of the most important of the Morocco festivals & events and the ancient form of festivities have not changed much.

About The Ashura Festival, Morocco

The Ashura Festival, Morocco is the most important of the Shia Muslim festivals. It takes place on the tenth day of the holy Muslim month of Muharram and is observed in remembrance of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein at Karbala, approximately thirteen centuries back. Prophet Imam laid down his life in pursuit of the position of Caliph.

The Ashura Festival, Morocco is in essence a day of mourning and the rituals involve an outpouring of grief. In fact, the Ashura Festival celebrations like flogging (which is lashing with whips or even small sharp-edged knives) are quite well-known and well-recognized all over the world. On this day, the male members of the Shia community use whips or knives to make each other bleed. This practice is believed to reflect the grief of the Islamic world when Hussein died.

In Morocco, Ashura Festival is observed all over the country and is a true reflection of the religious sentiments of the people.