ORISSA, India: Irrespective of religion, creed, caste and color, eternal sacrifices of Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) are commemorated by people of all faiths, for Hussain (AS) is the Martyr of Humanity because objective of his martyrdom was protection of religion & Shariat, respect of the mankind, and defense of the human dignity.

A Hindu family in Orissa's Sambalpur district carried out a tazia procession during first Ashra (ten days) of Muharram.

Lal Mohan Padhihary's family has been taking out the procession of tazia or the replica of the Imam Hussain (AS)'s shrine for more than three centuries.

Padhihary's family is carrying on the legacy after his ancestors undertook a pilgrimage to holy Makkah and Medina to fulfill a wish.

"My forefathers even went to Makkah for Hajj in the 16th century. Since then, my family members have been taking out the tazia procession every Muharram," Padhihary said.

District police chief Lalit Das said Padhihary family has been doing this every year for the last 338 years, adding other local Hindu families also participate in the procession.

Muslims said it reflected the perfect harmony between the two communities in the area.

Not only the procession is taken out by a Hindu family, other community members also help in making the replica of the holy shrine.

Meanwhile, about a hundred Hindu families joined the Muharram procession at Jatni in Khurda district. The Hindus had also contributed funds for the event, said 75-year-old Mohammad Ali who organized the procession in Jatni, 20 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.