Myanmar-a strange experience

On our first day in Yangoon, we were lucky (?) to witness a quite strange event. A group of Shia muslims were commemorating the death of Husayn ibn Ali, the third imam who was killed in the battle of Karbala. It is called "The mourning of Muharram".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_of_Muharram

Men and even boys were flaggelating themselves, while women were following the beat hitting their chest. Soaked in blood, they sang some kind of "battle-hymne" and suddenly kneeled down and cried. The streets were covered with blood and so were we. Have a look at the video! A very impressive happening that finished as quickly as it had started.