Muslim celebration in Varanasi

On December 6, 2011 Varanasi and other Indian cities with Muslim population became a place for a large-scale Muslim Muharram mourning activities. That invariably included zangir-zani (beating oneself with chains).

On Muharram, Muslims take out large processions and mourn the killing of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, who was martyred some 1,330 years ago at Karbala in Iraq on the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram. Major mourning processions were held in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad and other cities.

The police had beefed up security to ensure that the day passes off peacefully - and it did.