TEHRAN - The Ramadan-special TV show "Mahfel" has become a hit on Iranian television, attracting a large audience and sparking significant discussions on social media.

Due to its popularity, the production team decided to host an event at Tehran's Azadi Stadium, focusing on the Quran and involving the show's audience. Despite the stadium's capacity of 100,000 spectators, arrangements have been made for around 150,000 guests by adding extra seating outside the stands. The report you're reading provides insight from a Tehran Times correspondent on the eve of the event.

A different derby in Tehran

The echoes resonate through the stadium corridors, as if the crowd's sound still rebounds off the walls, swirling and winding down the passages leading to the stands. The cacophony of voices, the dissonant clamor, the cheers, and synchronized chants; all linger in the air. These corridors, echoing the hustle and bustle for over half a century, still reverberate with the energy of the past. At the end of these corridors, glimpses of the green pitch evoke a surge of adrenaline in football fans' veins. Azadi Stadium has always been evoking these feelings, recalling passions, angers, tears, and smiles. It brings to mind Morteza Amiri Esfandagheh's poem about the Tehran derby, pondering, “Ninety minutes of tension; where is ‘Esteghlal’? Where is ‘Piroozi’?” (‘Esteghlal’ and ‘Piroozi’ are the names of two football clubs involved in the Tehran derby; the literal translation of the words in Persian are ‘independence,’ and ‘victory,’ respectively.)

However, this time, the story takes a different twist. It's nearly eleven o'clock at night. As I traverse from one corridor's end into the stadium, I observe various groups bustling around the field. Some are securing the scaffolding, others are assembling the central stage, and a few are carefully positioning a photo of a non-Iranian martyr.

It's said that the section of the stadium where spectators eagerly pay extra for their tickets to watch the game is reserved for the families of Resistance martyrs. I inquire whether the official himself has witnessed the reaction of the martyrs' families upon receiving the invitation. He nods, indicating that the families have been invited through someone else. His nod seems to imply, "What's the significance?" Well, it is indeed significant. It holds great importance! I imagine the expression in a martyr's mother's eyes, her heart still heavy with grief, as she realizes that in such a grand event, she has been respectfully invited to occupy the best seats in the stadium, next to the photo of her martyred son. What emotion ignites in her eyes? 

The ground of Azadi Stadium, just a few hours before the commencement of the special event, is filled with players who have never faced each other.

Ordered chaos of operation room

Just before Iftar, I arrived at the meeting venue. The coordination session for planning the special event felt like a well-organized meeting that lasted for hours, following a clear agenda. Every hour, someone in charge would stand up, outline the schedule for the next day, and everyone would listen attentively. It reminded me of the smaller-scale coordination meetings for different events and even resembled scenes from movies on a grander scale!
The conference room is arranged for Iftar. Conversations fill the space around the conference table as everyone interacts with each other. The country’s media and executive managers, as well as event organizers are deeply engaged in discussions around the Iftar table. I anticipate that the formal session will begin after Iftar and prayers, and these informal discussions beforehand are customary. While prayers and Iftar conclude, the conversations persist. It's at this juncture that I comprehend the entirety of the situation.

The coordination meeting room resembles a command center on the eve of a major military operation. The buzz reflects the magnitude and scope of the task, along with the enthusiasm of those involved. Gradually, I adapt to the meeting environment, discerning a semblance of order amidst the conversations and smaller discussions. It's not a hierarchical setup; rather, it's a meeting where hierarchy carries little weight, and everyone participates on equal terms.

Finding precision in teamwork

Reza Sayadi and Sadegh Roshan, two of the event organizers, highlight a crucial aspect of the ceremony's execution process. They note that in the workflow of this event and in previous instances such as the 10-kilometer-long feast on Eid al-Ghadir, the predominant feature of all members' involvement in this project is a dedicated effort without consideration for hierarchy.

Reza Sayadi explains, "I have experience in administrative roles. In administrative work, once a decision is made, everything aligns to ensure tasks are not delayed or carried out slowly. However, in this context, things are different. The organizers of this event embody the concept of 'competing in good deeds,’ as emphasized by the holy Quran in the Surah Al-Baqara (2:148). They strive to outdo each other and drive the project forward. This encapsulates both a spirit of dedication and effective teamwork. Unfortunately, the term 'teamwork' in our society often implies disorganized and unplanned efforts. Yet, upon closer examination, we find that some of the most successful and coordinated endeavors occur within teams. Within these teams, tasks ranging from organizing shoes to setting up audio systems and managing hospitality are handled by one or several responsible individuals, each fulfilling their duties meticulously, resulting in smooth progress overall."

Sadegh Roshan adds, "Events like the special event on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Imam Hassan (AS) or similar ones in the past might have appeared to be the first major events in Tehran, but in terms of execution, they were nothing new to us. It's the same type of work that our dedicated and organized youth have always undertaken. It's the same effort seen in our larger organizations during the days of Muharram and Arbaeen. When intentions are pure, when there are no hidden agendas, and when people work sincerely, all tasks are carried out diligently and systematically, leading to successful outcomes of such magnitude." 

The hallmark of the Jihadi spirit lies in its capacity to streamline significant and challenging tasks. Despite the seemingly relaxed demeanor of event organizers as they discuss the process with a pleasant smile, a closer examination of the scale and complexity of the work reveals its inherent challenges. The preparation of approximately 150,000 Iftar packages hints at the potential attendance of 150,000 individuals at this event, necessitating meticulous logistics, care, and flawless execution of the live event for such a large audience. This also entails the recording and live streaming of the event, which, even in the absence of physical attendance, presents its own set of challenges.

Ali-Asghar Hassanzadeh, who is an engineer, elaborates on the IT infrastructure deployed for orchestrating this event. He mentions a system that conducted surveys and polls regarding the timing and conditions of the event prior to the final decision. Ultimately, the fifteenth day of Ramadan was chosen by popular vote as the optimal day for hosting the event. Additionally, an online platform allowed potential attendees to pre-register and indicate their likelihood of attendance in the subsequent phase. This approach furnishes event organizers with precise statistical insights for analyzing predictive data essential for effective event management.

Hassanzadeh also mentions that the registration systems for the program faced several cyber-attacks from various countries, including the Zionist regime. He noted that these attacks were successfully blocked right from the outset.

There's hardly any time for interviews. Everyone is engrossed in the hustle and bustle, discussing the programs on the night before the special event and shuttling back and forth between the meeting venue and Azadi Stadium, where preparations for the event are underway. After the event, there will probably be extensive news coverage, but the lively discussions, movements, sleepless nights, and excitement will likely be overshadowed in the media reports.