Qutub Shahi legacy lives on in Telugu nohas on Karbala

HYDERABAD: No Muslim historical event has influenced the Telugu folk literature as Moharrum. There are thousands of nohas in Telugu eulogizing the martyrs of Karbala about 1400 years ago. In fact, even Urdu does not have so many songs on Moharrum and the martyrs of Karbala as in Telugu.
According to experts in folk literature, Moharrum, the first month of Islamic calendar, became popular in the geographical area that now comprises modern Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during the Qutub Shahi period about 500 years ago.The 10^th of Moharrum is observed as Yaum-e-Ashura recalling the sacrifice of Hazrat Imam Hussain and his family in the battle of Karbala in modern day Iraq. The martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mohammad, has inspired Telugu poets and writers to pen eulogies recalling the events that unfolded in the battle of Karbala. The tradition of local Hindus joining the observance of Moharrum and singing hymns in Telugu began during the reign of Ibrahim Qutub Shah IV. It strengthened further during the rule of subsequent Qutub Shahi rulers.
According to folk literature expert Prof Jayadhir Thirumala Rao, Moharrum songs over the years had become part of the Telugu folk literature. In many villages people dressed up like Hindu deities lead the Moharrum procession of Alams (standards). Eminent Telugu writer and poet Mohammad Afsar spent a year observing Hindu participation in Moharrum rituals and wrote a book listing out the events associated with the Pirs (Alams). Some of the Telugu songs even deify the personalities of the battle of Karbala.