A brief account states that the ceremony upon discovering possession consists of gathering in a
zeriba (a hut made of mats) where dances and chants occur. A sacrificial animal (such as a chicken or goat) is strangled and boiled without salt. This water is smeared on the walls and floor, and the meat of the animal is eaten by those present. Other accounts state that the ceremony is held near the tomb of a saint, such as Sheikh al-Kamal, founder of the 'Isawiyya brotherhood (which has likely influenced the practices of the Hamadsha Ceremonies that begin in the evening and go on until morning may be called
līla (nights). These begin with an entrance from the street (called '
āda or
dakhla). The musicians warm their drums over a fire first, and play them as they walk through the procession towards the home or
zawiya the ceremony is held in. Once they have entered, the '
āda ceases as possession oriented music,
hadra, starts to be played. The musicians take their seat in a U shape, and do ritual chants
(hizb) for around 20 minutes. After this are the
al-ūnāsa al-kabīra,
at-tṣiliyya, and
al-ūnāsa al-ṣaghīra. The
ūnāsa are poetry readings, with the
kabīra being accompanied by drums and the
ṣaghīra being accompanied by clapping. The
tṣiliyya is a set of short songs. An intense
hadra follows, inviting Aisha, and the final part of the ceremony, the
saf al-gimbrī, starts. Possession starts in the
hadra, and continues in the
gimbrī (named for the central instrument). The Gnawa also begin ceremonies with a
dakhla or '
āda, and hold them either in the evening ''('ashiya)
or night (līla)''. They hold ceremonies to appease a spirit possessing someone, who they have a relationship with, and where a sacrifice occurs. They use incense and ritual clothing.
Baraka are, in a Sufi context, a kind of divine favor or miraculous power, used by saints to perform miracles, and how "the divine reaches into the world". One has
baraka in the same way one has strength or intelligence, and some have it more than others- with saints having a great deal of it. It is not always positive.
Baraka in the Hamadsha comes from the saints venerated in it. Tombs of saints in Morocco are taken care of by their descendants, with the primary caretaker being called
muqaddim, who visitors donate money to.
Muqaddim are also involved in the rituals done by the Hamadsha. == Music ==