Read on Twitter
Pictures below, Muharram processions in Trinidad and Tobago. Despite its Islamic origin, 'Hosay' which is the Creole term for 'Husain' was celebrated by all on the estate regardless of creed or colour.
It would later be known in history as The Hosay Massacre of 1884
It would later be known in history as The Hosay Massacre of 1884
The processions were originally brought by South Asian labourers by the British to work on plantations. Replicas of the tomb, tajahs, would be created out of bamboo and cloth, towering to 30 feet high. In 1884, the British authorities banned the processions.
The villagers did not agree, and in defiance continued to build their tajahs. On October 30th 1884, close to 8000 South Asians and blacks carried out the processions chanting Hosain! Hosain! Hosain!
The police waited until the procession was 100 feet away and opened fire. The 'official' death toll is reported at 11, but carts of dead bodies were wheeled to be buried. Hundreds were injured.
