Bengaluru: Hundreds from the Shia community gathered across Bengaluru and nearby areas on Sunday after reports emerged of the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran. Mourners assembled to offer prayers and express grief over the loss of a leader they viewed as a guiding religious authority.
The main congregation took place near Masjid-e-Askari in Richmond Town, an area known for its large Shia population. Organisers arranged the condolence meeting within hours of news circulating about his reported death in an airstrike allegedly linked to the United States and Israel. Despite the short notice, men, women, and children filled the mosque premises.
Many carried his photographs. Others stood in silence. Several women wept openly. Participants described his passing as a personal loss and spoke about his influence on Shia Muslims worldwide. After the initial prayers, mourners walked in a solemn procession to a nearby Shia cemetery where they held special prayers in his memory.
As the gathering progressed, attendees voiced concern over ongoing global conflicts. Speakers referred to the humanitarian toll of political violence and urged reflection on its impact on ordinary families.
Richmond Town, which hosts one of Bengaluru’s largest Muharram observances each year, witnessed a strong turnout across age groups. Local MLA N. A. Haris visited the site, offered condolences, and urged unity and peace.
In Alipur village in Chikkaballapur district, around 70 kilometres from Bengaluru, residents also observed grief. The village of nearly 30,000 people, most from the Shia community, announced a three day mourning period. Shops closed and families gathered in mosques and homes for prayers.
