TEHRAN- To mark the month of Muharram and the mourning ceremonies for the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), tazieh performances about the martyrdom of Ali al-Akbar (AS), the son of Imam Hussein (AS), were held at the Al-Mahdi Center in Rome, Italy on Saturday and Sunday.

The performances were organized by the Imam-e Rauf group, which has been staging tazieh performances in various European countries since the beginning of the lunar month of Muharram, Mehr reported on Tuesday.

The productions were directed by Hassan Basiri and produced by Amir Mohammad Davoodipour, featuring a cast including Seyyed Ali Sadat Razavi, Majid Khosravan, Mehdi Sayyadi, Seyyed Mortaza Miresmaeili, Mohammad Reza Qorban Asgari, Navid Asjodi, and Amir Soleimani Moqaddam.

“Ali al-Akbar (AS) Tazieh” tells the story of Ali al-Akbar, the son of Imam Hussein (AS), who displayed unwavering bravery and selflessness during the Battle of Karbala, ultimately giving his life while fighting alongside his family against the forces of Yazid's army.

Earlier last week, the group performed tazieh on the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) in Budapest, the capital of Hungary for the first time.

The event was organized by the Iranian Embassy in Budapest and was held at two locations, a church in the city center and the Iranian Embassy itself.

The performances were attended by a large number of Hungary-based Iranians, as well as Muslims from countries such as Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh, and Hungarians interested in Iranian culture and art. 

The event was a significant milestone in the history of tazieh performances in Europe, as it was held for the first time at a Christian church in Budapest. The event received widespread attention and admiration from the audience, who praised the beauty and richness of Iranian culture.

The presence of some Hungarian cultural and artistic figures at the event was also notable, indicating their appreciation for this rich Iranian tradition. The event was a testament to the universal message of peace and friendship that Imam Hussein (AS) and the Ashura uprising convey to all humanity across cultures and religions.

The Iranian passion play tazieh was registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2010.

Tazieh represents religious events, historical and mythical stories and folk tales. Each performance has the four components of poetry, music, song and motion.

However, stories about the uprising of Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions against the oppressive Umayyad dynasty in 680 CE are more highly regarded by tazieh troupes and audiences.

Performers are always male, and female roles are played by men, most of whom are amateurs who gain their living through other means but perform for spiritual rewards.

It is a kind of drama that depicts the event of Ashura and is performed in Mahur, Chargah, and Shur Baghdad radifs of Iranian music.

It is based on the Ashura culture and the brave war and martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS). It is a religious play dated back to 9th-century dynamites and Buyids. However, Tazieh performance began during the Safavid era (1501-1736) and flourished during the Qajar era.

SAB/