Ashura (Noah’s Pudding)

Ashura is prepared by boiling grains, fruits, and legumes. According to Islamic belief, the tenth day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic calendar) is the Day of Ashura, where many important events related to the lives of the prophets were experienced, and the symbol of abundance, sharing, and unity is made. On this day, the Prophet Noah’s Ark was saved from the flood, and Moses passed through the Red Sea and saved the Israelites from the Pharaoh. The Battle of Karbala, in which the second Caliph of the Umayyad State, Yazid bin Muawiya, was martyred on October 10, 680, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, and 72 of his relatives, took place on the same day.

Ashura means ten in Arabic. The best-known story about the emergence of Ashura is about Noah’s Flood. Prophet Noah made this meal by bringing together all the grains found on the ship to be grateful for the day his family and the animals he took on his ship survived the great flood.

Depending on the meaning that communities attribute to this day, what is put into Ashura, the date it was made, and its purpose differ. Although the content of Ashura varies depending on the societies that follow this tradition, it is a food that is famous for the abundance of its ingredients. In general, Ashura is cooked by boiling legumes and nuts such as wheat, beans, chickpeas, apricots, walnuts, grapes, figs together for a long time.

Prayer is made for the Ashura after it is cooked. Since it is believed to be healing, it is first served to patients and children and then distributed to many people starting from the immediate environment. The bowl of Ashura is returned without washing. The leftover is poured at the bottom of the fruit trees, and it is believed that these trees will yield more fruit.

The tradition of Ashura finds its place in Islamic sects as well as in Judaism and Christianity. In Islam, fasting on the Day of Ashura is sunnah. Ashura is also a symbol of unity, sharing, and solidarity. As different flavors come together in Ashura to create a new flavor, the Islamic world also consists of different nations with their sect, legend, order, race, and color. On this day, people remember to share the morality of living together, joy, sorrow, blessing, burden, love, and hardship.