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Cedros Hosay Celebrations - Feb. 8th - Feb. 11th
The
observance of Hosay in Trinidad is an annual ritual which pays tribute
to the brothers Hosain and Hassan, grandsons of the Prophet Mohammed,
who were both killed, though in different ways. Hosain, probably the
most beloved grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, was killed at the battle
of Karbala (located in today’s Iraq) in the year 680AD. His
brother Hassan was poisoned twelve (12) years before the martyrdom of
Hosain at Karbala.
That’s why on the Flag Night and Small Hosay Night preceding the
Big Hosay night, you would see in the procession through the streets of
Cedros, following the drums, children bearing red and green flags; the
red flag symbolising blood, and dedicated to Hosain; the green flag,
symbolising poison, and dedicated to Hosain. And on the night of the
Big Hosay when the two tadjahs from the two oldest Hosay camps in
Cedros meet to hug and kiss, you would see the green and red flags
reach out and touch each other in a ritual expression of love.
The Hosay tradition is one which the indentured labourers brought with
them from India, and though it is fundamentally a Shiite Muslim
religious ritual, in crossing the seas and adapting to the Cedros
environment, it has become a uniquely Cedros-Trinidad Affair, in which
Hindus, Muslims, Indians, Africans and others participate.
There are five Hosay camps in Cedros – two in the Bonasse area,
one in St. Marie, one in Bois Bourg and one in Fullerton. The street
procession begins on Wednesday 8th February which will be Flag Night;
Thursday’s procession will be the Small Hosay Night and on Friday
night, Big Hosay Night, five tadjahs will be drawn through the streets
of Cedros. On Saturday there will be the ceremonial drowning of the
five tadjahs at various locations of the Cedros coastline,
corresponding to the village of origin.
Thousands of people usually line the sea shores to witness this event.
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