Every year people across Iran commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and a number of his loyal companions on Ashura, the tenth day of lunar month of Muharram, by holding mourning processions and ceremonies.

Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (S), was martyred by Umayyad army in 680 EC in Karbala, Iraq.

They commemorate the Ashura tragedy with mourning processions with large drums which were used in the battle to alert the public, disorient the enemy and direct troops.

All dressed in shades of black to keep with the military nature of the processions, mourners simulate self-flagellation with light-weight chains to the thump of a bass drum and the crackle of a snare.

At the fore of the march, several men bear the immense weight of an ornate apparatus called alam on their shoulders and a eulogist chants in praise of Imam Hussein (AS).

In addition to mourning ceremonies and processions, people in northwestern city of Ardabil observed a renowned tradition named Tasht-Gozari during Muharram.

The tradition highlights the importance of water in the Ashura event.

During the battle, the Yazid army prevented Imam Hussein (AS) and his followers from accessing to water. The water blockade continued up to the end of the battle on Muharram 10.


------ Ardabil: City of mourners of Imam Hussein (AS)

Driving to Ardabil, passengers face the welcome sign of the city, which reads: Welcome to the City of Husseini People.

The ceremony of the Ardabili people is well-known across Iran. Their Azari-language eulogies in praise of Imam Hussein (AS) and their mourning ceremonies are really heartrending.

Tasht-Gozari is one of traditions, which has been performed for centuries in the city. However, other Iranian cities perform the tradition nowadays.

------------ Tasht-Gozari: A tradition to welcome Muharram

The ritual of Tasht-Gozari, which literally means wash-tub putting, begins three days before the start of Muharram on Dhu al-Hijjah 27.

Probably the origin of the Tasht-Gozari dates back to the Safavid era. The most ancient existing wash tub of Ardabil is kept in mosque of Chaqusazan bazaar, which dates back to the era of Shah Abbas I (1571 – 1629) and on its edge engraved: “Donated to Hazrat Abbas (AS) 1038”.

Tasht-Gozari is performed in over 200 mosques in six main neighborhoods of the city. In all the mosques, some platforms are designed for keeping copper and brazen wash tubs during the year.

Before beginning of Muharram, women from different parts of the city clean mosques and wash the wash tubs preparing them for Tasht-Gozari.

Each year, the tradition is performed at the Ardabil Jame’ Mosque on Dhu al-Hijjah 27. Other mosques perform the ritual on other days of Muharram.

There are six wash tubs representing six neighborhoods of Ardabil at the Jame’ Mosque. The patriarchs from the city’s six neighborhoods gather at the mosque on Dhu al-Hijjah 27.

After attending the mourning ceremony, the representatives from each neighborhood hold wash tubs on their head while entering the mosque.

They go around the mosque and people touch wash tubs to express their allegiance with Imam Hussein (AS).

Then they put wash tubs on the specified platforms in the mosque and after putting all the six wash tubs on the place, mourners bring jars full of water and pour them into wash tubs.

During the ten days, the mourners drink the water in wash tubs, believing it is healer and take it for patients as well.

Lighting candle and recounting a special prayer named “Fateheh” during the event is other aspects of the ritual.

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PHOTO: Mourners in Ardabil hold wash tubs on their head during the Tasht-Gozari ritual in October 2014 (Reza Zare'/IRNA)

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