“The Day of Ashura is on the tenth day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Mourning of Muharram. It is commemorated by Shi'a Muslims as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram in the year 61 AH. In some Shi'a regions of Muslim countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Pakistan, the Commemoration of Husayn ibn Ali has become a national holiday and most ethnic and religious communities participate in it. Even in predominantly Hindu majority but secular country like India, Ashura (10th day in the month of Muharram) is a public holiday.

It is commemorated by Sunni Muslims (who also refer to it as The Day of Atonement) as the day on which the Israelites were freed from the Pharaoh (called “Firaun” in Arabic) of Egypt. According to Sunni Muslim tradition, Ibn Abbas narrates that Muhammad came to Madina and saw the Jews fasting on the tenth day of Muharram. He asked, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good day, this is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy and Musa (Moses) fasted on this day”. So he fasted on this day and told the people to fast. Many Sunnis also recognize the importance of the events at Karbala and the martyrdom of Imam Husayn in regards to Ashura”. – Wikipedia

An Iranian Shiite covers his head with mud during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

An Iranian Shiite covers her head with mud during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian Shiites cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

An Iranian mourner covers his head with mud during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian Shiites cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian Shiites cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian mourners cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. Hussein, one of Shiite Islam's most beloved saints, was killed in a 7th century battle at Karbala, Iraq. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian Shiites cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian mourners cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian Shiites cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

An Iranian Shiite is covered with mud during Ashoura rituals, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian Shiites cover themselves with mud, during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)

Iranian Shiites cover themselves with mud during Ashoura, marking the death anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, at the city of Bijar, west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, November 14, 2013. (Photo by Ebrahim Noroozi/AP Photo)