Hyderabad: Youm-e-Ashura or the 10th day of Muharram is just three days away and the state govt has not yet released the promised grant-in-aid to 700-odd Ashoorkhanas in Telangana. The 10th day of Muharram is observed on June 26 in India.According to Mir Abbas Ali Moosvi, president of Anjuman-e-Mutawallian, the umbrella body that looks after the welfare of Ashoorkhanas in Telangana, the state govt promised to release grant-in-aid for 712 Ashoorkhanas for Muharram. “Minorities welfare minister Mohammad Azharuddin in fact, promised to double the grant this year,” Moosvi said.He urged the govt to declare Muharram as a state observance. “Peerla Panduga (Muharram Azadari) is widely observed across Telangana with great communal harmony. “Marking the observance of Muharram with traditional processions and ‘Alams’ has been a centuries-old feature in Telangana,” he said, adding that Ashoorkhanas have been playing a pivotal role in preserving the cultural and religious heritage of Telangana.He also urged the state govt to provide honorarium to Mutawallis and Mujawareen (caretakers) of Ashoorkhanas on the lines of honorarium to Imams and Muezzins of mosques.
