KANPUR: Rakesh Gupta, a devout Hindu , along with other members of his community is doing brisk purchasing of fruits, sweets and utensils to distribute it among Muslims of Jhamman Lal Ki Kalar locality of Etawah during the passing of ‘tazia’ procession during Muharram.Each year, to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain during Muharram, he takes part in ‘luttas’ ceremony, a tradition wherein people from Hindu community in the locality distribute ‘tabarruk’ (something sacred and from which you can receive blessings) in the form of eatables.Continuing with the tradition started by his grandfather, this year too Rakesh, keeping aside every other important assignment, is ready to observe ‘luttas’ ceremony to show reverence to Imam Hussain.“I am a Hindu by religion, but I pay tribute to Imam Hussain, who has answered my grandfather’s prayers and he was blessed with a son. Thereafter, he named him (my father) Fakeerchandra and started distributing ‘tabarruk’ to Muslim brethren every year in the locality on the seventh and the ‘Yaum-e-Aashoora,’ the 10th day of Muharram," Gupta said.The tradition, which gradually became famous and people started calling it ‘luttas’ in local slang, attained the status of an event for wish fulfillment, he said adding that the tradition attracts people from neighbouring localities and even districts.“Not only Muslims, but people from various sections of the society from far-flung areas throng the locality prior to the passing of tazia procession,” said Alka Gupta of the Gupta family She added, “Had God not answered our prayers and blessed my grandfather with a son, our family line would have ended.”“Although, the district authorities make elaborate arrangements for the event and deploy police, till date no untoward incident has taken place despite the fact that people jostle with each other to grab ‘tabarruk’ distributed from the roof-tops of the houses,” she added.Khadim Abbas, convener of the Qaumi Tehaffuz Committee, Etawah said as per his ancestors, during pre-Independence era, even British officers used to attend the ‘luttas’ event, which had mention in the Gazetteer of Etawah.

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