Hosay

Origins and history

The tradition was brought to the Caribbean in the nineteenth century by Indian indentured labourers following the end of slavery. In Trinidad, early records trace the observance to 1854. At its core, Hosay marks the death of Husayn at Karbala in 680 CE. Although rooted in Shia Islamic practice, the observance quickly became a shared space across the plantations. People of Indian, African, Chinese and Amerindian heritage gathered together, crossing colonial social boundaries. In 1884, colonial authorities banned public street processions. Thousands defied the restriction in what became known as the Hosay Riots or the Muhammad Massacre, where colonial police shot and killed twenty-two people in San Fernando.

Building the tadjahs

Central to the visual spectacle are the tadjahs, derived from the Arabic word taziya. These are intricate, multi-coloured model mausoleums shaped like mosques, crafted from paper, tinsel and lightweight frames. In the initial days of the observance, artisans construct these decorative floats alongside crescent shaped structures called moons. The coastal village of Cedros in southwestern Trinidad is renowned for its distinct building method, producing float designs found nowhere else in the world. After being carried through the streets during the main processions, the tadjahs are ritually carried to the ocean or local waters at sunset on the concluding day and placed into the sea.

Music and street processions

The street processions are driven by the continuous rhythm of tassa drums. Drummers warm the skins over small fires lit along street gutters to tighten the heads and sharpen their sound. Alongside the drumming, performers stage mock stick fights that evoke the historical Battle of Karbala. The earliest days involve fasting, dedicated prayer and quiet preparation within the community. When the public parade begins, the intense percussion and towering shrines draw large crowds into the roadways. In Jamaica, where plantations across every parish once kept the custom, Clarendon remains a prominent center where Hosay takes place annually.

A shared tradition

Though Hosay began as a Shia Muslim commemoration, it has evolved into a wider cultural gathering in the Caribbean. Today, Sunni Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Rastafarians and followers of other traditions take part side by side. Nineteenth-century colonial officials and newspapers once used derogatory labels for the event, but it has become an accepted element of national life in Trinidad and Tobago and neighboring lands. The festival serves as an expression of mutual tolerance, where neighbors of varied faiths and ancestral backgrounds unite to build floats, play music and watch the grand final procession.

How Hosay is kept

The commemoration spans ten days, matching the period of Ashura. During the opening six days, participants fast, pray and build decorated model tombs called tadjahs as well as moons. Celebrations peak during the final four days when communities carry the ornate floats through the streets. Drummers heat tassa drumskins over gutter fires for resonance and beat steady rhythms while performers engage in mock stick fights. On the final evening at sunset, the crowd leads the tadjahs to the coast and consigns the structures into the sea.

When and where

Hosay is observed annually across the first ten days of Muharram, following the Islamic lunar calendar. Because lunar years differ from solar calendars, the dates shift across the seasons. In Jamaica, local observances are often held in August.

The commemoration is held in Trinidad and Tobago, particularly in Saint James in Port of Spain and Cedros in the southwest. It is also kept in Jamaica, Guyana, Suriname and among Caribbean diaspora communities.

What Hosay means

Hosay commemorates the sacrifice and martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The elaborate tadjah structures symbolize his tomb and mausoleum. In the Caribbean, the custom also stands for communal resilience and unity, bringing together diverse faiths and backgrounds despite past colonial oppression.

Days Hosay is marked

Questions people ask about Hosay

See also

DiwaliA five-day festival of lights celebrated across India and its diaspora to mark the victory of light over darkness.HoliA spring festival of colours and bonfires that marks the end of winter and the triumph of good over evil.KwanzaaA seven-day African American celebration of heritage, family and community valuesRama NavamiA Hindu spring festival marking the birth of Rama with prayer, fasting and processions

Good reading and sources

• Hosay on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.