MUHARRAM 2022
MUHARRAM IN BAHRAIN IS UNIQUE, AS IT IS THE ONLY ARAB COUNTRY IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION THAT HAS A SHIA MUSLIM MAJORITY.IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT THOUSANDS OF GULF NATIONALS VISIT BAHRAIN DURING ASHURA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RELIGIOUS PROCESSIONS. ALTHOUGH OFFICIAL STATISTICS IN 2009 SHOW THAT ONLY 1,100 MATAMS ARE OFFICIALLY REGISTERED IN THE COUNTRY, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THERE ARE UP TO 5,000 MATAMS, INCLUDING BOTH REGISTERED AND UNREGISTERED. PROCESSIONS (AZADARI) OCCUR ON AN ALMOST-DAILY BASIS DURING THE MONTH. DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF THE PROCESSIONS EXIST: SOME PROCESSIONS CONSIST OF PARTICIPANTS BEATING THE CHESTS, OTHERS WITH SELF-FLAGELLATIONS WITH CHAINS AND HITTING ONESELF WITH SWORDS OR KNIVES (CALLED "HAIDAR") PASSION PLAYS AND REENACTMENTS OF THE DAY OF ASHURA ARE ALSO PERFORMED.
