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Practising Fractal Shi’i Identities through Muharram Rituals in MumbaiPractising Fractal Shi’i Identities through Muharram Rituals in Mumbai

by Reza Masoudi Nejad

To cite this article: Masoudi Nejad, R. (2012). OPEN FORUM ARTICLE: Practising Fractal Shi’i Identities through Muharram Rituals in MumbaiPractising Fractal Shi’i Identities through Muharram Rituals in Mumbai. Diversities14(2), 103–117. https://doi.org/10.58002/etfp-q669

This article explains the Shi’a-Muslims in Mumbai as a fractal society, a social organisation constituted of numerous social segments, each with its own shape and structure. As a result, this article refers to Shi’i identities, not one single Shi’i identity. In particular, the discussion explores how the fractal organisation of Shi’a society and diverse Shi’i identities are practised through Muharram rituals. This paper shows that each Shi’a community has invented and reinvented its identity over time through Muharram rituals, and that Mumbai as a cosmopolitan city has intensified the need for the reinvention of identities.

16-01_CoverDiversities • Volume 14, No. 2, 2012
Language and Superdiversities II
Guest Editors: Karel Arnaut, Jan Blommaert, Ben Rampton and Massimiliano Spotti
ISSN-Print 2199-8108
ISSN-Internet 2199-8116