page_title: Ta'zieh
hierarchical_section_title: Ta'zieh
caption_attribution_description: English: Muharram procession of Shia Islamic community has been observed in South Asia, and documented in the British colonial rule era. The temporary colorfully painted structures called Tazia (Taboot) passed annually through the streets in a mourning procession for Imam who was killed in the 7th century by a Sunni Caliph. The procession would proceed to a water body such as river or ocean for immersion. The above painting is from 1790-1800 period according to the source (Columbia University archives). Source caption: The ta'ziyahs being taken to the river for immersion, a watercolor in the Murshidabad style, c.1790-1800* (BL)
context_page_description: Ta'zieh or Ta'zïye or Ta'zīya or Tazīa or Ta'ziyeh, means comfort, condolence or expression of grief. It comes from roots aza which means mourning.
  Depending on the region, time, occasion, religion, etc. the word can signify different cultural meanings and practices:
  In Persian cultural reference it is categorized as Condolence Theater or Passion Play inspired by a historical and religious event, the tragic death of Hussein, symbolizing epic spirit and resistance.
  In South Asia and in the Caribbean it refers specifically to the Miniature Mausoleums used in ritual processions held in the month of Muharram.
  Ta'zieh, primarily known from the Persian tradition, is a shi'ite Muslim ritual that reenacts the death of Hussein and his male children and companions in a brutal massacre on the plains of Karbala, Iraq in the year 680 A.D. His death was the result of a power struggle in the decision of control of the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
  Today, we know of 250 Ta'zieh pieces. They were collected by an Italian ambassador to Iran, Cherulli, and added to a collection which can be found in the Vatican Library.
context_section_description: Ta'zieh or Ta'zïye or Ta'zīya or Tazīa or Ta'ziyeh, (Arabic: تعزية‎, Persian: تعزیه‎, Urdu: تعزیہ‎) means comfort, condolence or expression of grief. It comes from roots aza (عزو and عزى) which means mourning.
  Depending on the region, time, occasion, religion, etc. the word can signify different cultural meanings and practices:
  In Persian cultural reference it is categorized as Condolence Theater or Passion Play inspired by a historical and religious event, the tragic death of Hussein, symbolizing epic spirit and resistance.
  In South Asia and in the Caribbean it refers specifically to the Miniature Mausoleums (imitations of the mausolems of Karbala, generally made of coloured paper and bamboo) used in ritual processions held in the month of Muharram.
  Ta'zieh, primarily known from the Persian tradition, is a shi'ite Muslim ritual that reenacts the death of Hussein (the prophet Muhammad's grandson) and his male children and companions in a brutal massacre on the plains of Karbala, Iraq in the year 680 A.D. His death was the result of a power struggle in the decision of control of the Muslim community (called the caliph) after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
  Today, we know of 250 Ta'zieh pieces. They were collected by an Italian ambassador to Iran, Cherulli, and added to a collection which can be found in the Vatican Library. Various other scripts can be found scattered throughout Iran.
caption: A Tazia carrying procession by Shia Muslims on Ashura in the Indian subcontinent (c. 1790-1800). The Tazia were immersed into the river or ocean.
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