How do Shiʿi Muslims observe Ashura?

Shiʿi Muslims observe Ashura as the date of the martyrdom of Ḥusayn, whom they revere as the third imam. The holy day is the culmination of 10 days of mourning beginning in Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. Shiʿi Muslims commemorate Ḥusayn with rituals of mourning, including assemblies, sermons, poetry, chest-beating, and passion plays reenacting Ḥusayn’s martyrdom. In South Asia many Shiʿi Muslims parade through the streets with representations of Ḥusayn’s tomb. Observing Shiʿis often wear black clothing and black, red, or green headbands as a sign of mourning.