Thousands Participate in Grand Ashura Processions Across Texas to Commemorate Imam Hussain (AS)
By Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
TEXAS: On the solemn occasion of Youm-e-Ashura, mourners in Texas gathered in large numbers to mark the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and his loyal companions who laid down their lives at Karbala. Ashura processions were held across several cities in Texas, including Houston and Dallas, with thousands of mourners participating in an atmosphere charged with emotion, grief, and reverence.
In Houston, the central procession was organized by Anjuman Pasban-e-Aza, drawing participation from various religious and community organizations. Men, women, and children dressed in black moved solemnly through the streets, their hearts heavy with the memory of Karbala, chanting “Labbaik Ya Hussain” in unison. Along the procession route, taaziyas, Alams (banners), symbolic coffins, and water stalls were set up as acts of devotion and remembrance.
In Dallas, the procession commenced from John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza in downtown, led by Anjuman Sarkar-e-Wafa. Noted community and religious leader Ali Rizvi led the march. Participants included mourners from Momin Center, Ilm Center, and Dar-e-Hussain, along with thousands of men, women, elderly, and children. The procession featured the symbolic display of Alam, taaziya, and taboot, allowing mourners to express their grief through chest beating (matam), weeping, and recitation of elegies.
Addressing the participants, religious scholars shed light on various dimensions of the tragedy of Karbala. They emphasized that Imam Hussain (AS) stood against tyranny and raised the flag of truth against the unjust rule of Yazid. The message of Karbala, they asserted, is not confined to history, it remains a timeless call for justice, resistance, and dignity.
The noha khwans (elegy reciters) filled the air with soul-stirring poetry, bringing many to tears. It felt, for many, as if the roads of Houston and Dallas had transformed into extensions of Karbala itself. Chants of Ya Hussain and Labbaik Ya Hussain echoed throughout the gatherings, lifting the spiritual intensity to emotional heights.
Throughout the processions, majalis-e-aza (mourning assemblies) were also held, where scholars and speakers reflected on the philosophy of martyrdom and the legacy of Karbala. Announcements were made for Sham-e-Ghariban gatherings to be held later in the evening across local Imambargahs. Mourners reiterated that Ashura is not merely a ritual of grief but a yearly recommitment to standing firm against oppression.
Security was robust across all cities, with local police departments and law enforcement providing full cooperation. Roads were sealed, and volunteers played a crucial role in ensuring discipline and facilitating the flow of the processions.
Participants stressed that the sacrifice of Imam Hussain (AS) transcends sect or denomination, it is a beacon for all of humanity. His courage, steadfastness, and unwavering principles continue to inspire every free-thinking individual who stands for truth. The annual Ashura processions, they said, are a way to instill the values of sabr, wafa, and moral resistance in future generations.
As night falls, Sham-e-Ghariban assemblies are being held across Texas, where scholars and zakireen recount the sufferings of the martyrs and highlight the mission of Imam Hussain (AS), keeping the spirit of Karbala alive in hearts and minds.
These processions, these tears, and this collective mourning are not merely acts of remembrance, they are the living extension of a movement. Karbala lives on, in every heart that stands for truth, and every voice that cries, “Labbaik Ya Hussain.”
