Hilla's historic Nalbur Market gears up for Muharram

KARBALA, Iraq — Ahead of Muharram, the historic Nalbur Market in Hilla, the capital of Iraq's Babil province, has entered its busiest period of the year, with workshops and shops shifting to the production and preparation of items for Husseini processions, including spears, swords, banners, bells and kitchen supplies. One of the market's oldest craftsmen, 72-year-old Abu Nasir, known by his laqab Safi al-Musawi, has spent more than 40 years making the "kama," the upper portion of swords and banners. The market, a long-established hub for these ritual items, serves Husseini mourning processions that mark the anniversary of the killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Market vendors said demand has partially declined in recent years because of growing competition from imported goods, but they noted that handmade products continue to be favored for their durability and traditional identity. Across Iraq, consumers typically turn to local markets in the weeks before Muharram to purchase supplies linked to the commemorations, a seasonal pattern that has shaped trade in Hilla's old quarter for generations.