Jalalpur is located about 80 km east of Faizabad, now under District Ambedkar Nagar in the State of Uttar Pradesh. It is famous for hand woven clothes in eastern U.P. and also famous for celebrations of multi-religious and cultural activities representing unity in diversity of a characteristic of our country. Amongst them the observance of mourning by Shias assumes a significant position. Next to
Lucknow, Jalalpur is the place that has been recognized as a centre of commemoration of tragic assassination of Prophet’s grandson Imam Husain a.s. and his companions. There are about fifty (50) associations (anjumans) comprising of youths and youngers that undertake such commemoration, identifying the practice as integral part of their faith in Islam. Hakim Nisar Ali was one of the main patrons of this anjuman who had laid the base and gave shape to his imaginative design of his experiences of late 18th century. After his demise late Jb. Sajjad Husain Karbalai, late Jb. Husain Mahto, late Jb. Muslim Mahto and others took the responsibility and served the anjuman day and night for its further progress. Ali Naqi was the first sahib-e bayaz (chanting poetic description of atrocities on Imam Hussain) of anjuman who had very good voice. He remarkably contributed to the anjuman as a sahib-e bayaz and got admiration not only in Jalalpur but also in the earstwhile States of Lorepur and Mittupur. After him this responsibility was subsequently taken over by late Jb. Isa, late Jb. Mushtaq Husain, Jb. Nasir Ali and Jb. Faiq Husain Mahto and other devoted persons. On the horizon of anjuman, during the end of 20th century late Jb. Dilshad Husain and some other legends came forward and raised the level of anjuman to national and international level by their excellence in SALAM, MUSADDAS and NAUHA. Dilshad Husain was the forerunner of his time in such recitals. He portrayed and gave a new dimension in the field of SALAM, MUSADDAS AND NAUHA and led the anjuman all over the country. After him the gap has been filled up by Jb. Haider sb. Under the patronage of this anjuman Chota Imam bada came into existence. Chota imam bada is the iconic representation of anjuman Jafaria. Chota imam bada is a piece of traditional architecture, furnished with the chandelliers that has its own unique feature not only in Jalalpur but also in the Awadh region. There is a beautiful mosque annexed to it with a sprawling lawn. Most of the muharram juloos originate from this imam bada. The most ancient juloos in the history of Jalalpur is Juloos-E-Chehlum which also originate from this Imam bada under the patronage of anjuman Jafaria registered Jalalpur.
