TEHRAN – People from all walks of life gathered on streets across the nation on Tuesday to celebrate Eid al-Ghadir - the day on which Imam Ali (AS), the first Imam of the Shia, was appointed as successor to Prophet Muhammad (S).

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei sent a message, congratulating the Iranian nation and the Muslims all around the world and called the public celebration of Eid al-Ghadir 'a very good initiative'.

In Tehran, the celebration was held in a length as long as ten kilometers. Some 600,000 persons contributed financially to holding the event. The municipality provided children with books and multimedia content about religious ceremonies.

Healthcare services such as testing blood pressure and blood sugar as well as other services were provided free of charge.

The tourism headquarters of the municipality invited different ethnic groups to set up tents and pavilions on the route to show their culture and traditions.

Buses were ready around the main squares of the city, mosques, and neighborhoods to transport people to the festival.

Some 2,200 mawkibs (voluntary stations to serve people) were set up this year, an increase of 30 percent compared to the year before. The mawkibs offered food and drinking to people.

The feast was held in 300 cities of the country and representatives and guests from Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, and Afghanistan were present.

The celebration was also held in Brazil, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, and Afghanistan.

On the way back home from Hajj in 632, which is known as the Farewell Pilgrimage, Muhammad (S) asked for a stop in a region called Ghadir Khum, where in his sermon, he announced his cousin Ali (AS) as his successor and first Imam shortly before his death based on a revelation from God.

Afterward, two tents were pitched, in one of which Muslims congratulated the Prophet (S) for his excellent choice and, in the other one, Muslims from all tribes gave their allegiance to Ali (AS). One of the Muslims was Hazrat Fatima (SA), the wife of Imam Ali (AS) and daughter of the Prophet (S).

Ayatollah Khamenei has said the regulation of government, power, and ruling in the Islamic community was determined by Ghadir. This is the significance of Ghadir.

"No doubt, the day of Eid al-Ghadir is an extremely important day. The importance of this Eid--the most important Eid based on the Shia narrations-- relies on its theme: wilayah [governance]. It could be said that the goal of all the efforts made by the prophet Muhammad and other prophets and religious figures was to establish the wilayah of God."

MG