By TCN Special Correspondent
Lucknow: Lucknow’s Moharram is known the world over for its Azadari (mourning of the martyrdom of imam Hussain (A.S.) and his kin through marsiyas, noha and sozkhawani). TCN reporter took a trip to one of the Azakhana (the place where mourning related activities are done). A report-
Just at a stone’s throw from City Station in Lucknow is the palatial residence of Nawabzad Syed Masoon Raza known as Saltanat Manzil. An advocate by profession, Raza traces his lineage to Nawab Meer Shah Ali Khan Saheb Bahadur, the Law Minister of the first King of Awadh-Ghaziuddin Haider.
Beside the usual antique furniture, the house of Raza also has a century old Azakhana still retaining the glory of Nawabi era. According to Raza, the Azakhana was established by Khan Bahadur Nawab Syed Hamid Hussain Khan, O.B.E, Life Magistrate and his wife Rani Saltanat Begum. Even after a century has passed since its establishment, Nawab Syed Mehdi Hussain Khan Special Magistrate has maintained it because of which the grandeur of Azakhana still continues.
The Azakhana has a main hall leading through a big rounded arch containing the Shahnashin, a row of silver alams with an exquisite alam made of kundan work in the middle and patkas embroidered with gold and silver zari work, silver gulab-paash for sprinkling rose water during majlis, silver incense holder silver candle stands and
beautifully carved silver mashaals (torches). All the artifacts are reminiscent of the bygone Nawabi era.