TEHRAN- Iranian pop singer Mostafa Ragheb is set to hold free concerts at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall to mark the beginning of Safar, the second month of the lunar Islamic calendar, during which Shia Muslims observe special mourning services.

Inspired by the Chahar-Payeh Khani ritual, a traditional method of reciting mourning eulogies in Iran, the concert will take place on Tuesday and continue until August 10, with free admission for the public, Mehr reported on Sunday. 

An orchestra of 25 musicians will perform a selection of familiar and nostalgic eulogies, along with Ragheb’s original works centered around Imam Hossein (AS).

Traditionally, in the lunar month of Safar, thousands of Shias Muslims commemorate Arbaeen, which marks an end to the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and his loyal companions at the Battle of Karbala on Muharram 10 in the year 61 AH (680 CE).

Chahar-Payeh Khani is a traditional mourning practice from old Tehran during the days of Muharram, which can now only be found in the Tehran’s Grand Bazaar and the Shemiran neighborhood. Over the years, Chahar-Payeh Khani in the Bazaar has evolved into one of the most unique mourning customs in Tehran, attracting many residents of the capital to participate in these commemorations.

For years, Chahar-Payeh Khani has been intertwined with the Bazaar, drawing its enthusiasts to the narrow alleys of the market on special days during the mourning period of Muharram and the month of Ramadan to witness this ancient tradition. Although this custom is still practiced in old tekyehs and neighborhoods such as Tajrish, Darakeh, and Evin, the Bazaar remains its heart. Chahar-Payeh Khani is a form of mourning where the mourners or reciters stand on a chair and showcase their skills through reciting eulogies and chanting. In this style, the reciter positions themselves among the crowd rather than in front of them, as the audience encircles the chair reader.

The Chahar-Payeh Khani ceremonies are held in various ways across different parts of Tehran. For example, in some tekyehs in Shemiran where this tradition still thrives, the chair always has a designated place right in the center of the mourning hall. In contrast, in the Tehran Bazaar, mourning groups move through the alleys and courtyards, stopping at specific locations along the way. There, a reciter climbs onto a chair to lead the mourning, after which the procession continues, making way for the next group to follow.

SAB/