TEHRAN - A number of Muharram mourning rituals as well as a Persian New Year ceremony have recently been included in Iran’s National Tourism Events Calendar.

A selection of significant Ashura-related ceremonies practiced in various provinces have been identified and categorized based on their potential to become religious tourism attractions, Mehr quoted the director of domestic tourism development with the tourism ministry, as saying on Wednesday.

Among the events registered are Kharrah mali, or ‘mud rubbing’, a ritual primarily held in Khorramabad, the capital of Lorestan province, Sayyed Mostafa Fatemi said.

The ritual was conditionally registered at the national level, with the possibility of being upgraded in the future.

Additionally, the Tabaq-Gardani procession in Qazvin, held during the mourning periods of Muharram and the 28th of Safar, was recorded at the provincial level. The “Ta’zieh” (passion play) in Qazvin, which occurs annually on Tir 16th (July 6th), was also added to the calendar.

Fatemi mentioned that other mourning ceremonies, including some held in cities like Tabriz, have also been conditionally included in the National Tourism Events Calendar.

Fatemi highlighted that some of these events had previously been registered as intangible cultural heritage, emphasizing the importance of events that can boost tourist attraction, especially during off-peak travel seasons.

The official added that for an event to be included in the tourism calendar, it must be held within a specific and limited timeframe, in a well-defined location, and contribute to enhancing the destination’s image and awareness among tourists.

Furthermore, these events should be easily accessible to tourists and equipped with the necessary facilities for accommodation and hospitality, he explained.

New Year ceremony at Imam Reza shrine

In addition to Muharram rituals, the head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Office of Mashhad announced that the New Year ceremony at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) has been added to Iran’s National Tourism Events Calendar.

Hossein Amirkalali stated that the New Year ceremony is an event held during the final hours of the [Persian] year, with the presence of pilgrims and locals at the porticos, courtyards, and surrounding areas of the holy shrine complex.

Amirkalali added that the New Year ceremony has been conducted with special rituals since the Qajar era, usually with the presence of religious, scholarly, and political figures, and continued during the Pahlavi period. “Today, the ceremony is held with even greater grandeur and scale.”

AM