گوستاو تایس

This paper examines the “Husey” ritual in the country of Trinidad. The “Husey” ritual is the adopted local form of the ritual of Ashura of Imam Husayn (peace be upon him) in this country. The author examines the entrance of Muslims into this island and the Ashura ritual from one hand, and explains the process of changes and basic transformations in this ritual and its relation with a form of native carnival, from the other hand. The author argues that the participation of different groups (even non-Muslims) in this ritual is a matter of identity, on the basis of which every social group tries to partake in this ritual with its own conception of it, which it considers to be correct and valid. So it might be regarded as cultural rivalry.