Ashura mourning of Nardaran

In the village of Nardaran (30 km from Baku), holds a ceremony to mark the Ashura mourning. Thousands of faithful fill the village of Nardaran and its surroundings: locals, as well as people come from the capital and from around the region.
On the day of Ashura, traditionally one of the most crowded mourning ceremonies is held in the Nardaran shrine.
About 10 thousand people - locals, visitors from Baku and other regions of the country took part in ceremonies.
Imam Hussein (the grandson of Prophet Muhammad) and his companions were martyred on Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram (Lunar month), which falls on 24th October 2015 this year. Muharram ceremonies symbolize the eternal and unwavering stance of truth against falsehood and humanity’s struggle against tyranny, the cause for which Imam Hussein was martyred.
More pictures.

Muharram, month of grief

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It's a month of remembrance that is often considered synonymous with the event of Ashura. Ashura, which literally means the "Tenth" in Arabic, refers to the tenth day of Muharram. It is well-known because of historical significance and mourning for the martyrdom of the grandson of prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussein ibn Ali, in modern-day Iraq 1,300 years ago.
Imam Hossein was martyred in the 680 A.D. battle fought on the plains outside Karbala, a city in modern Iraq that's home to the Imam's holy shrine and where 3 million Shiites gathered Tuesday to mark Ashoura.
"More than 28,000 security forces including back up troops from the interior ministry (police) in Baghdad were sent to control the security of the city," military officials said earlier this week.
The governor of Karbala province, said hundreds of thousands of foreigners had already arrived from countries such as Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan and Tanzania.
In this month, shittes express their grief by sine-zani (beating the chest), zangir-zani (beating oneself with chains) and emerged as common features of the proliferating mourning-processions (dasta-gardani). Mourning for the martyred Imam also takes place in assemblies held in buildings erected especially for the purpose, known either as Hussainia or takia, as well as in mosques and private houses.
Read more: 1, 2

Pictures
Iran: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Karbala (Iraq): 1, 2
Turkey

Ashura, a factor for unity

Erdogan: Event of Ashura, a factor for unity of Sunnis and Shiites
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated on Thursday (17 Dec 2010) in Ashura ceremony in Istanbul, to be the first Prime Minister to attend a Ashura mourning ceremony in Turkey’s history.
Erdogan, has said that the martyrdom of Imam Hussein on the day of Ashura in Karbala is a factor for unity of Sunnis and Shiites.
According to Press TV, in an address to a mourning ceremony, commemorating Ashura in Istanbul, Turkey, Erdogan pointed out that the selflessness and courageousness of Imam Hussein and his faithful supporters, conveys the message of unity and fraternity for all world Muslims.
He further called for unity of all Muslims, across the globe.

to commemorate Ali-Asghar

Iranian women gathered their newborns to commemorate Ali-Asghar, the newborn son of Imam Hussein (AS).
The six-month-old baby Ali-Asghar was killed by an arrow that hit his throat while he was in his father’s arms on Ashura (the tenth of Muharram), which was the day Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions were martyred.
For the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as), the first two months of the Islamic year are a time for grief and mourning. It was on the 10th of Muharram, 61 A.H/680 C.E that Imam Husayn (as) the grandson of the Holy Prophet (saw) was martyred in Karbala, "Ashura", meaning the tenth day. The Holy Imam went through great difficulties even after Ashura, and their grief and pain is remembered by their followers for two months. During these two months Shia"s try to avoid all forms of merry making. They are as one bereaved family, giving vent to their grief and sorrow through mourning rituals such as Majalis and Matam. This does not mean however that they make their lives miserable. Read more ...
more pics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6