The streets of St James carried more than just the sound of tassa drums on Wednesday night; they carried memory, meaning and mourning as the community observed Small Tadjah Night, one of the most symbolic moments of Hosay 2026.
The focus of Small Tadjah Night is the tiny, ornate tadjah representing Hazarat-e Ali Asghar, the six-month-old son of Imam Hussein, who was killed during the Battle of Karbala.
The small tadjahs emerging from family yards across the community serve as a symbol of remembrance and sacrifice.
Accompanying the procession were the unmistakable sounds of Hosay drumming, a tradition deeply rooted in history and symbolism.
According to Secretary of the St James Cocorite Community Hosay Moon Association, Jameel Bisnath, drums once served as a vital means of communication during times of war.
“In the battle years ago, drumming is a most ancient form of communication. If you talk to many drummers, drummers will tell you that is the medium of communication of the physical plane to the astral plane. So basically when we play the drums, each hand of drum represents something.”
He said each rhythm tells its own story.
“So you will see the hosay drum, or the hosay Matham, the war drum. When they were going to war they play the war drum. Then now you will see on Big Hosay night you will see we leaving the yard with the dead hand, a solemn hand. The Matham, that means that’s the dead hand to signify the death of Hussain, so that’s why you will play that leaving the yard. Then now you have the Cabrokanah or the fine hand which is the marching hand, which is a next slow beat. Then you have Nabisalwah, which is the hands of sorrow, and then you have the Tin Chopra which is the hands of mourning.”
Big Hosay takes place on Thursday night, when the larger tadjahs will take to the streets in a vibrant display of faith, culture and remembrance.