Ashura will be held tomorrow. Tazia symbolises the historical Karbala incident.

Authorities at the Hossaini Dalan Imambara, centre of the Shiia faith and an ancient monument, said they decided not to carry the Tazia in procession 'to preserve its holiness from criminal attacks'.

The Shiia community organises the Ashura programme in remembrance of Imam Hossain (RA) and the tragic incident in the Karbala war in which Hossain, along with his family and followers was brutally killed by his rival Yazid and his men.

Shiias used to commemorate Ashura with a procession carrying Tazia from the centre on Muharram 5-10 every Hizri year.

Over the years, miscreants have attacked the procession and looted the valuables that decorate the Tazia in procession. Shiias decorate the Tazia with gold, silver, money and other valuable items. Criminals disturb the serenity and solemnity of the procession, some members of the community alleged.

"Last year miscreants attacked the Tazia at Azimpur," said Hasanat, a Chankharpul pharmacy owner.

"At least 10 people were injured in a bomb blast in the incident. Not only last year miscreants tried to attack the Tazia in the previous years in the same area," said Mirza Emdad Ali, member of Hossaini Dalan management committee.

To avoid such incidents, the management committee of the Imambara took a decision to place Tazia on the Dalan premises during Ashura. This goes against the 350-year-old ritual of the Hossaini Dalan's establishment in 1642.

Emdad Ali said that they had asked for police protection this year for fear of attack on the procession. When this correspondent contacted the Lalbagh police station the duty officer Shah Alam said he had no information about it. The police also said, if they received any complaints, necessary action against attackers will be taken.

The Ashura processionists, driven by emotion, perform matom, the symbolic self-inflicted torture with knives and chains.

Miscreants on pretence of matomia (devotees who perform matom) make devious moves to disrupt the procession said Nadeem, a businessman at the Hossaini Dalan Road.

"We see more matomia in Ashura procession in the recent years," said Emdad Ali, adding that the increase in numbers does not pose problems.

Members of the Sunni sect can too take part in the procession in reverence to Imam Hossain. There is no bar to the partakers, he said.

"We will carry a Tazia of Mir Yakub Imambara instead of our own in procession. We face no threats, but we have to change our customs for safety' and to ensure the purity of Tazia," said Syed Shamsad Ali, khadem of the Imambara.