INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN – Yazd will be hosting more than one hundred special religious rituals during the ensuing lunar months of Muharram and Safar to
commemorate the slaying of Imam Hussein (AS), grandson of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUP), the provincial tourism chief has said.“Yazd has
long been a destination of many domestic and foreign tourists during the (lunar) months of Muharram and Safar when many rituals and special
mourning ceremonies were being performed by local citizens,” Ahmad Akhoundi said on Tuesday. “This year, special mourning programs are
planned to be held to get (foreign) tourists familiar with religious ceremonies held during these two months, especially on the days of
Tasua and Ashura,” the official said.Over the past decade, Yazd has been a major destination for foreign tourists on the ninth and the
tenth days of Muharram (Tasua and Ashura) when the mourning ceremonies reach their climax.Holidaymakers can witness various ceremonies such
as Tazieh, a passion play inspired by historical and religious narrations, and Sineh-Zani [beating the chest]
They also converse with locals and religious figures while taking shots of mourners to document the events.From a theological approach,
religious rituals are perhaps a recreation of collective memories that help to shape what is known as collective identity, an essential
foundation for a sense of belonging
One such ritual is the mourning ceremony
Rich with symbolism, most of which have historical values, these ceremonies are a platform where communal beliefs and ideas about life and
death are acknowledged and as people unite in grief and hope for consolation, they search for new meanings of life and reevaluate and
confirm the foundation of their beliefs.Muharram and the following month, Safar (which includes commemoration of the aftermath of Karbala)
are a period of lamentation for Muslims
War and fighting are prohibited during Muharram and festivities like weddings and birthdays are usually postponed to more appropriate days
People generally wear black out of respect or at least avoid wearing very bright colors.They say the core meaning of Muharram is beyond such
mere bereavement and commemoration of the past
Karbala was an actual and metaphorical venue where the Truth confronted the Lie, where justice spoke vibrant and audible in the face of
prejudice, and where courage, passion, and devotion preceded attachment, worldliness, and obstinacy.The saga is narrated to tell us that
compared to the Pyrrhic and momentary victory of injustice, integrity and honesty will always stand the test of time as today the life of
Imam Hussein (AS) is honored by millions across the world while the account of his enemies is nearly lost in oblivion
The story also lives to tell us that the majority is not always right
Even if the army of Truth is small in number, it still is magnanimous in what it stands for.AFM
