From the archive record
A large gathering of Shia Muslim devotees takes part in Muharram mourning rituals in Old Delhi, India. Participants dressed predominantly in black assemble in organized rows within a courtyard or street setting and perform rhythmic chest-beating as part of matam, a mourning practice associated with the remembrance of Imam Hussain. Religious flags and ceremonial standards in red, yellow, black and other colors are raised above the gathering. The high-angle view shows the organized formation of mourners and the scale of the religious observance during Muharram.