Wed Jul 02 11:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Muharram Observances Begin, Ashura Holiday Set for July 6th

**New Delhi, India** – The Islamic month of Muharram commenced on Friday, June 27th, marking a period of mourning and reflection for Muslims worldwide. Muharram, considered the second-holiest month in the Islamic calendar after Ramadan, commemorates the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed.

Shia Muslims will observe the period with acts of self-flagellation, poetry recitations, and processions. Sunni Muslims will mark the occasion with fasting, prayers, and charitable giving.

The most significant day of Muharram, Ashura, which falls on the 10th day of the month, will be observed on Sunday, July 6th. As a gazetted holiday, all public and private sector banks and offices will be closed across India. Schools, post offices, and many private institutions will also be closed. Trading activities will be suspended on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) for equity, currency derivatives, and other financial instruments.

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh are taking steps to maintain law and order during the observances. In Sambhal, over 900 individuals have been placed under preventive restrictions. District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya warned against any attempts to disrupt communal harmony, stating that violators would face consequences, including forfeiture of surety bonds.

Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna has issued directives to police units across the state to deny permission for new Muharram processional routes or religious practices. A ban on displaying weapons during processions has also been imposed, along with increased morning patrols, checks on objectionable posters, and the use of CCTV and drone surveillance.

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