Note: Shahrzad is an Iranian writer/teacher from Tehran. Shahrzad’s blog is one of the most followed blogs on the blogosphere, in her blog Shahrzad offers clear unbiased perspective of an educated and independent Muslim woman. This post highlights the Processions of  Azadari in the Holy month Moharram.

Even after 1400 years, tragedy of Hussain ibn Ali (A.S) and his family is reminded by thousands and thousands ceremonies in Iran.

By start of Muharram, Iranian Shi’as, Sunnis and even other religions, strictly avoid founding any parties and celebrations. It’s the way that all Iranians from any faith show their respect to the martyrs of Karbala. In Urumiyyeh the azeri city in northwest, there are many different communities of Sunnis, Shi’as and Christians who all together participate in Ashoura and Tasu’a ceremonies and cry for Hussain (AS).

‘Shabih Khani’ (enactment) or performing the scenes of Ashoura day is so popular in Azeri and Kurd cities of west and northwest. They share breads, Halwa and hot milk among people and they cook rice and meat for the poor.

In Isfahan there’ve been always very famous ceremonies which have a history of 3 centuries or so. In Khuzistan of southwest, the ceremonies are done in Arabic way which is using ‘Sinj’, ‘ Bough’ and ‘Dimam’. They’re some kind of African musical instruments which came to arabic culture almost since hundreds years ago. They make this ‘Bough’ by horn of bull and it’s so difficult to learn how to play it.

In Birjand of Southern Khurasan, they usually mourn for Karbala in Masajid. On the other hand, In centeral city of Yazd, the ceremonies are started since the first day of Muharram and goes the utmost in the day of Ashoura. When all people gather in Amir Chakhmakh square, an ancient part of the city with a big old mosque. There is a big wooden ‘banner’ which thousand men carry it and turn around the square while others are mourning.

The huge ceremony of Muharram 8 in Zanjan city is also one of the most famous ceremonies in the muslim world. Where people offer thousands sheeps as sadaghat for the poor.

In northern cities, along the Caspian sea, the ceremonies are usually done at night. Every night, one of counties mourn for Karbala event and they move to other counties with flags.

I personally love the ceremonies in Tehran, the capital. Tehran as a very multi-cultural city has its very multi-cultural ceremonies for Muharram too. There are Azeri, Abadani, Kurd, Persian, Gilak, Pakistani, Afqani and many other communities that every one perform the rituals in their own way. But then what you get, is the combine of many people all together from different ethnicity and race.

You may see that even Armenian Christians cook food for the poor in these days. Nobody asks you whether you’re from their community or not. There are many masajid and from any heritage with any language, they stand side by side of together and remember the tragedy of Ashoura.

There are actually many wrong ways of mourning in other countries too which have been banned in Iran. Nowadays, mourning for Hussain is getting really meaningful and special. It’s coming out of just showing off or even wasting tears. It’s becoming more important and effective nowadays.

Innovations which were entered in the ways of mourning during history, have been strictly forbidden in Iran since some years ago. Stupidity of injuring body, using Qammah, heavily hitting, big banners, portrate of imams, blood and clay on face have been prohibited since long time ago.

The fact is we need to announce the true message of Karbala and realise it with the today’s events. Remembering Karbala is really significant, when it become a motivation for youth to go and study Islam, the Islamic history and try to learn about personality of great Muslim characters, from the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to Imams (A.S) and Sahabah(R.A).  It should be a shortcut for muslim youth to recognise the Yazids of this era and Hussains of today.

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A young Iranian Child, Muhammed Husain Rangbast, reciting the incident regarding the attack on Fatimat Al-Zahraa, the Daughter of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessing upon him and his family.

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