Posted on: 1 October 2017

Nawab Asaf al-Daula commemorating Muharram - 1812

Watercolour of the Nawab Asaf al-Daula, the Nawab of Lucknow, by an anonymous artist working in the Murshidabad style, part of the Nuqent Collection, c. 1812. Inscribed on back in English in ink: 'Lukhnou Nawab Asoofooddoala'; in' nagari' characters: 'Luknau asaf-ud-daula navab.'

Nawab Asaf ud-Daula was the Nawab of Awadh from 1775-1797. In 1784 he requested architect Kifayat-ullah to construct the Great Imambara, a hall with the express purpose of celebrating the Muslim festival of Muharram in commemoration of the imams Ali, Hasan, and Hussein. In this drawing he is seen in that hall, seated on a rug smoking a hookah and listening to a party of male musicians. He is surrounded by a group of courtiers and attendants.

Image and text credit:
Copyright © The British Library Board


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'celebrating' is not the right word - commemorating/observing

I don't think Muslim "celebrate" Muharram.

Again this is very interesting painting. Also, before the Bara Imambara was constructed, the Nawab of Lucknow had commemorated the Muharram. Interestingly since this is quoted by the English man, who I believed didn't know about the Muharram tradition among the Muslims of Ahlulbayt, he wrote a party of male musicians. This has connotation that Muharram procession is something merry, which is in fact not. Anyway, thanks for posting this. I have been to Lucknow so I am familiar with Nawab of Lucknow.