Asyut – Marking the demise of an alleged man of God, a large funeral procession was held to accompaniment of drum music and Mizmar dance in almost unheard-of precedent in Egypt, according to local witnesses from Asyut governorate, located 320 kilometres from Cairo. The funeral marchers claim that the deceased was a holy man and a miracle worker who led a life of utmost spirituality and worship. In order to account for playing folkloric music at the funeral, the marchers said that the late was chosen as a saint whose holy soul would not ascend to heaven except to the accompaniment of mizmar music and mournful dirges which they were playing. Mizmar is any single or double reed wind instrument. Mizmar dance is a traditional Egyptian folkloric dance, well-known to the southern Egyptians, in which a group of musicians, usually a duo or trio, play a mizmar instrument along with one or two double-sided bass drums, known in Arabic as tabl baladi or simply tabl. Mizmars are usually played in Egypt at either weddings or as an accompaniment to belly dancers; however, to see it at funeral ceremonies was considered 'the impossible possibility' with good measure.
