MWL_20070111_5003.jpg- Panchaiti's St James Imambara.

MWL_20070111_5022.jpg- Darryl Merani sketches a design detail for the tadjah.

MWL_20070111_5036.jpg- Framed by the cardboard skeleton of the tadjah are Darryl Merani, Sidney Abdul Karatee and Yvonne Mungal.

MWL_20070113_5063.jpg- Early on a Saturday morning, Merani and Jimmy Aboud talk cloth.

MWL_20070113_5069.jpg- Darryl searches for the right cloth at Aboud's store.

MWL_20070113_5084.jpg- Darryl searches for the right cloth at Aboud's store.

MWL_20070111_5002.jpg- This sketch, sent from the United States by Anthony Millette, Merani’s uncle, is the basis for his interpretation of the ceremonial tomb that will be built to honour Imam Hussain.

MWL_20070113_5093.jpg- Kassima Mohammed prepares a sandwich .

MWL_20070113_5100.jpg- Sidney Abdul Karatee cuts cardboard to cover the cones of the tadjah.

MWL_20070113_5109.jpg- Three weeks before Hosay takes to the streets of St James, the Imambara is abuzz with work. From left: Merani, Marina Ramsaran, Karatee and Kassima Mohammed.

MWL_20070113_5133.jpg- Gobi Lakhan discusses Merani’s choices for the cootiah cloth that will skin the tadjah.

MWL_20070113_5148.jpg- Darryl Merani cuts cloth watched by Kassima Mohammed and Marina Ramsaran.

MWL_20070113_5178.jpg- Yvonne Mungal pins material to the goomaj, the largest minaret and centrepiece of the tadjah’s design.

MWL_20070121_5378.jpg- Prayer observances are part of each night of Muharram.

MWL_20070121_5393.jpg- Part of the observances include smoking of the Imambara with incense.

MWL_20070121_5396.jpg- Part of the observances include smoking of the Imambara with incense.

MWL_20070124_5525.jpg- Shaping details for the goomaj out of styrofoam.

MWL_20070124_5549.jpg- San Juan Youngstars drum outside the Imambara.

MWL_20070126_5611.jpg- The goomaj takes shape

MWL_20070126_5631.jpg- Sidney Abdul Karatee sprinkles silver glitter onto styrofoam shapes that will be added to the goomaj.

MWL_20070126_5657.jpg- The skins of the drums are heated throughout the drumming session to keep them in tune.

MWL_20070126_5690.jpg- Drummers outside the Imambara. The yard next door is host to another team who are producing a "Sun" for the Hosay parade.

MWL_20070127_5724.jpg- Green glitter is sprinkled on styrofoam detailing that will be part of the tadjah.

MWL_20070127_5741.jpg- Sidney Abdul Karatee prepares a promise flag for the Flag night parade.

MWL_20070127_5755.jpg- Green glitter is sprinkled on styrofoam detailing that will be part of the tadjah.

MWL_20070127_5766.jpg- Promise flags

MWL_20070127_5805.jpg- Darryl Merani mounts promise flags to the base of the tadjah.

MWL_20070127_5828.jpg- Panchaiti camp members who have fasted during Muharram circle the flag truck at the close of worship on Flag Night. On the first night of Hosay’s public appearances, Abbas, Imam Hussain’s murdered flag bearer, is remembered and his fallen flag raised. The promise flags, offered by the faithful seeking a boon, are prized items, and are used as items of clothing and by tassa drummers on their tugnah straps after Flag Night.

MWL_20070127_5830.jpg- On Flag night, drummers prepare a bass drum, tightening ropes that keep the drum skin taut.

MWL_20070127_5863.jpg- On Flag night, drummers pause at the the roadside and burn shredded paper to heat the skins of their drums

MWL_20070128_5885.jpg- Marina Ramsaran (centre) works on the small tadjah with other volunteers at the camp.

MWL_20070128_5913.jpg- Darryl Merani brings the finished small tadjah to the rolling base for Small Hosay night.

MWL_20070128_5935.jpg- Kassima Mohammed (right) explains the Small Hosay to spectators. The small version of the tadjah remembers the murder of Ali Asgar, the infant son of Imam Hussain.

MWL_20070129_5974.jpg- Darryl Merani places the topmost cone on the goomaj as the tadjah is assembled for the first time outside of the Imambara.

MWL_20070129_5990.jpg- Darryl Merani, assisted by fellow workers and Gobi Lakhan at far right, lifts the goomaj to the top of the tadjah to begin the assembly of the representation of the Imam's tomb.

MWL_20070129_6005.jpg- Kassima Mohammed (right) passes a minaret section to a fellow worker as the tadjah takes shape. It must be fully assembled before nightfall.

MWL_20070129_6014.jpg- A schoolgirl assists in gluing the components of the minarets together.

MWL_20070129_6026.jpg- Prayer observances are part of each night of Muharram, but none are better attended or more vivid than the tenth night, Ashura, before the tadjah rolls onto the streets.

MWL_20070129_6046.jpg- After prayers, sweets are shared with those who have gathered for the occasion, including chocolates, fruit and malida, a home-made delicacy. Karatee and Shanti Muller prepare the treats.

MWL_20070129_6059.jpg- Sidney Abdul Karatee leads the procession rolling the tadjah onto the streets of St James on the tenth night of Muharram.

MWL_20070129_6061.jpg- Sidney Abdul Karatee leads the procession rolling the tadjah onto the streets of St James on the tenth night of Muharram.

MWL_20070129_6077.jpg- The tadjah, led by drummers from San Juan Youngstars and rolled along by supporters and workers makes its way through St James on the tenth night of Muharram.

MWL_20070129_6087.jpg- The tadjah, led by drummers from San Juan Youngstars and rolled along by supporters and workers makes its way through St James on the tenth night of Muharram.

MWL_20070130_6091.jpg- Darryl Merani, Yvonne Mungal and Gobi Lakhan share a meal and conversation at the Imambara while the tadjah makes its way along the St James route.

MWL_20070130_6111.jpg- Prayer observances with the Moon and Sun at QRC grounds, the traditional space allocated for the city for the daylight procession.

MWL_20070130_6117.jpg- As the tadjah waits outside QRC as the ceremonies proceed on the grounds, Karatee (centre) chats with other elders from the Cocorite camp.

MWL_20070130_6138.jpg- Under police escort, the parade of tadjahs continues along the route for the daylight procession.

MWL_20070130_6148.jpg- The tadjah makes its final journey back to the camp as the sun sets. Yvonne Mungal and a fellow camp worker trail the procession.

MWL_20070201_6190.jpg- In Muslim tradition, religious artifacts are disposed of in running water. For St James Hosay, that has, for more than a century, meant the sea. Raffique Enayth guides the goomaj out to deep water.

MWL_20070201_6195.jpg- In Muslim tradition, religious artifacts are disposed of in running water. For St James Hosay, that has, for more than a century, meant the sea. Raffique Enayth guides the goomaj out to deep water.