Trinidad & Tobago - A Celebration of Festivals - Trinidad and Tobago

HoosayS h i i t e M u s l i m C o m m e m or at i on of t h e M a rt y r d o m of I m a m H u s s a i na n d I m a m H a s s a n , ( t h e G r a n d s on s of M u h a m m a d ) , 6 4 0 a . d .Subject to the Islamic Lunar Calendar21Hoosay commemorates the martyrdomof Hussein - the grandson of Muhammad,the Prophet of Islam - which occurred onthe “Day of Atonement” in the monthof Muharram, the first month of theIslamic lunar calendar.After the death of Muhammed, conflictsover succession had ensued. Onegrandson, Hassan, died by poison. Hussain,his brother, was attacked in Kerbala (Iraq)and killed.The martyrdom of Hussain (Hoosay) andHassan was observed by Shiite Muslimswho brought the customs to Trinidadwhen they came as indentured workersfrom India.The first Hoosay in Trinidad was heldin 1854. When the British colonialadministration put a ban on processions,a large crowd came out for Hoosay in SanFernando, in 1884. Confrontation withthe police led to what is known as the“Hoosay Massacre.”The Shiites of St. James, the westernsuburb of Port of Spain, begin the monthof Muharram with prayer and fasting asthey build tadjahs (Hussain’s tomb) ofwood, bamboo, and tinsel. The 7th dayof Muharram is Flag Night on which theHoosay-building families parade withflags and drums. The following night isLittle Hoosay Night when tadjahs arepulled through the streets accompaniedby drumming. The next night, Big HoosayNight, the tadjahs are brought outtogether with two half-moons, one eachfor Hussain and his brother Hassan.On the “Day of Atonement”, the mainprocession proceeds in daytime alonga route set out since St James was aplantation. The tadjahs reach Queen’sRoyal College at 3.30pm - the time ofdeath - where the funeral prayer is read.Four days later, the tadjahs are draggedto the sea and destroyed.Where and when:Hoosay is commemorated in St. James,a suburb of Port-of-Spain that was settledby Indian indentured workers - streetnames include Lucknow, Mathura, Delhi,Calcutta, Cawnpore, Bengal - and Cedros,the southwest toe of Trinidad. ContactTDC for more detailed information.Festivals of Trinidad & Tobago\ Index View Print Exit /