In Pakistan's bustling port city of Karachi, members of the Hindu community are participating in Muharram observances, a sacred Islamic month primarily associated with Shiite Muslims. This participation reflects a long-standing tradition of honoring the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Raju Rathore, a Pakistani Hindu whose family migrated from India after the 1947 Partition, is among those who commemorate Hussein's death. "Muharram is very important to me and I want to keep participating in it for as long as I live," Rathore stated. "I go there in devotion to Imam Hussein."

Hussein was killed in the seventh-century Battle of Karbala, an event that became a defining moment in the schism between Sunni and Shiite Islam. The mourning culminates on Ashoura, the tenth day of Muharram.

Rathore's family's devotion stems from a vow made by his mother. She promised to honor Hussein's martyrdom by creating tazias—replicas of his mausoleum carried in Muharram processions—if she were able to have children. Rathore has continued this practice for decades, crafting these intricate structures from materials like paper, glass, and cardboard.

"This is our passion," Rathore said. "Our devotion to Imam Hussein is such that even giving our lives would feel insufficient."

The involvement of non-Shiite communities in Muharram rituals has a history across South Asia, with groups like the Hussaini Brahmins incorporating elements of both Hinduism and Shiite Islam into their traditions. Justin Jones, a professor of religious studies at the University of Oxford, explained that historical Shi'a ruling dynasties in South Asia often sponsored public commemorations of Hussein's martyrdom, fostering wider participation.

These observances became integrated into the civic and cultural life of the region, with some Hindus participating as musicians in processions or contributing to the construction of tazias. While such traditions persist, Jones noted they have become less common in the past century as religious communities increasingly observe Muharram separately.

According to Pakistan's 2023 census, Hindus constitute the country's largest religious minority, numbering nearly 3.9 million. Despite reports from organizations like Minority Rights Group highlighting instances of religious freedom violations for some Pakistani Hindus, Rathore asserts he has been able to practice his faith freely.

"Yes, I am Hindu, but this is not about religion," Rathore said. "Many of my fellow Hindus also hold Imam Hussein in great respect."

Members of Karachi's Hindu community, including Rathore, attend Shiite congregation halls during Muharram, offering prayers and participating in rituals such as chest beating before joining processions. Bharat Kumar, another Pakistani Hindu, expressed a similar sentiment: "Our religion has never taught us that because we are Hindus we should not participate in or respect others’ traditions."

Rathore, now 52, has been crafting tazias for approximately 45 years and plans to continue the tradition with his son, who now also participates in commemorating Hussein's martyrdom through the mausoleum replicas.