During Chehlum festival 40 days after Ashura, men use sharp blades to self-flagellate in order to mourn the death of Husain in the war of Karbala. Shia followers see Husain as a hero to look up to when fighting against injustice. The purpose of the painful mourning rituals is to remember Husain’s suffering and bravery in his struggle against injustice, and to adopt his spirit in our own fight against injustice.
In Pakistan, the Shia community makes up around 20 percent of the population. They engage in a variety of mourning rituals during the Ashura period, including self-flagellation. This time is observed to mourn the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The 40-day period lasts until the end of the mourning period known as Chehlum or Arbayn.
Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, 2006