The Masjid-i Jahan-Numa, the 'World-reflecting Mosque', commonly known as the Jama Masjid of Delhi, is the principal mosque of Old Delhi in India. Commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, it is the second largest and best-known mosque in India. The construction began in 1650 and was completed in 1656. It lies at the beginning of the Chawri Bazar Road, a very busy central street of Old Delhi. The later name, Jama Masjid, refers to the weekly Friday noon congregation prayers of Muslims, Jummah, which are usually done in a mosque, the "congregational mosque" or "jama masjid".The courtyard of the mosque can hold up to twenty-five thousand worshippers. The mosque also houses several relics in a closet in the north gate, including an antique copy of the Qur'an written on deerskin.

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year. Since the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.The word "Muharram" means "Forbidden" and is derived from the word haram, meaning "sinful". It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan. Some Muslims fast during these days. The tenth day of Muharram is the Day of Ashura, which to Shia Muslims is part of the Mourning of Muharram.Azadari procession carried out by Shia Muslims in Indian city of Hardoi on the Day of Ashura.Some Muslims fast during this day, because it is recorded in the hadith that Musa and his people obtained a victory over the Egyptian Pharaoh on the 10th day of Muharram; accordingly Prophet Muhammad asked Muslims to pray on this day that is Ashura and on a day before that is 9th.Fasting differs among the Muslim groupings; many Shia Muslims stop eating and drinking during sunlight hours and do not eat until late afternoon.Sunni Muslims also fast during Muharram for the first ten days of Muharram, or just the tenth day, or on both the ninth and tenth days; the exact term depends on the individual. Shia Muslims do so to commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali on the Day of Ashura.