Lucknow, June 23 -- The traditional Aag ka Matam was held at Bada Imambada on Monday. It is organised every year on the 6th of Muharram as people re-enact a glimpse of what Imam Hussain and his 72 companions have been through while they walked barefoot on hot sand. About 100 azadars participated in the fire ritual, raising slogans 'Labaik Ya Hussain' (O Hussain we are at your service) and 'Ya Hussain, Ya Haideri'. About 5 quintals of wood was set on fire. The azadars later walked on the burning wood while holding alams (emblems) and raising slogans. Others witnessing it performed seenazani (beating their chests in lament). The fire ritual replicates the hot sand on which Imam Hussain and his companions had to walk during the battle of Karbala. As per historian Roshan Taqui, the fire ritual was started by Myanmarese individuals in 1910. "It was started out of faith. This ritual is also organised in West Asian countries during the month of Muharram," said Taqui. Mohammad Hasan, 22, has been participating in the ritual for the last two years. "This ritual reminds us about the sufferings of Imam Hussain and his 72 companions. Every year, I seek blessings for the welfare of the entire human race while I participate in the ritual," said Hussain. Another azadar, Waseer Khan, 35, said that it is his love for humanity that made him participate in the ritual. "I have been witnessing the ritual since my childhood but this year my conscience motivated me to walk on fire," said Khan....