Asura

• Prize
  Silver in Press/Feature Story
• Photographer
  Arzu Aybat Yasar, Turkey
• Studio
  Freelancer

Asura, means "ten" in Arabic language, it is an old tradition of
Shia Muslims. Huseyin, a grandchild of the Prophet Mohammed,
was killed by other Muslims while he was tracking in the Kerbela
desert on the 10th Muharrem (a month in the Muslim calendar).
Many others, even little children from his family, were also killed
on that day. In Muslim tradition, every year on the '10th
Muharrem', Shia people come together to mourn and remember
that unhappy occurrence, and bring their children with them, in
order to hand this tradition on to the next generations. These
photos were taken by me, at this memorial ceremony in
Istanbul.