The Ramazan Season

At the photo, you can see a bowl of Ash-e-Reshteh with bread, basil and date that we had for the Eftar ( for breaking our fast)

This is the second day of Ramazan and the second year that I experience fasting at the hot days of summer. You may think this is so difficult but actually this not. I can describe the good feeling that I have...
I had some posts about Ramazan month that you can see by clicking here!

Yes, I won !

Eating Spaghetti competition (It was veryyy awful to watch)

Excuse me for 1 day absence on the blog. I've got a very bad flu and could not even sit and write a post.

Last night we went to the "spaghetti festival" as planed to take part for the spaghetti structure competition And I won the prize of the most beautiful structure :)

The prize was not as something I supposed on my mind, any way not bad. A big set of Pyrex Dishes for serving pasta with a very huge box of spaghetti!

Spaghetti Festival

The advertisement says about a Spaghetti festival in the Kian Center. Building spaghetti structures which is my favorite is one the programs of this festival. Then cooking the best food with macaroni and teaching how to cook are the other ones!

You may remember my spaghetti Eiffel Tower, I will take part in the competition of spaghetti structures with the Eiffel Tower of mine on Thursday, so please come here again if you like to know the result ;)

Happy Eid of Mabas

The cave Hira in the mountain Jabal al-Nour where, The place that Muhammad received his first revelation (Reference of the photo: Wikipedia)

At some point Muhammad adopted the practice of meditating alone for several weeks every year in a cave on Mount Hira near Mecca. During one of his visits to Mount Hira, the angel Gabriel appeared to him in the year 610 and commanded Muhammad to recite the following verses:

Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created- Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not.(Qur'an 96:1-5)

upon receiving his first revelations Muhammad was deeply distressed and contemplated throwing himself off the top of a mountain but the spirit moved closer and told him that he has been chosen as a messenger of God. To know more please click here.

Reference of the text: wikipedia

Medina- Prophet Muhammad's Mosque- is taken last summer

The anniversary of that event became one of the greatest Muslim's celebrity which is named "Eid of Mabas". "Eid" means celebrity and "Mabas" means to be chosen (here as the messenger of God) .

Mashhad Photo Daily Blog's first Guests

Aysegul, Sarah, Aysegul's friend

Tonight- Almas-e-Shargh shopping Center

Tonight was an interesting night for me. To visit a very kind and nice friend from Turkey that is now our guest in Mashhad. Aysegul and her friend have came to Iran for trip. They are going to visit Shiraz, Yazd, Isfahan and Tehran after 2 days staying in Mashhad. It would be interesting for you to hear that we became close friends by this photo blog.
I do not know who will be my next guest?? I will be so happy to visit you a day here, as my family do.

Happy New Year !

Haft Sîn or the seven 'S's is a major tradition of Nowruz, the traditional Iranian new year. It has a complex history and there are indication referring to Kayanids mentioning that (šahd, šir, šarāb, šikkar-e nāb, šamʿ, šamšād, šāya”) literally (honey, milk, wine, pure sugar, a candle, branches of box-tree, and fruits) has been the seven S's on the Nowruz table. Today the haft sin table includes seven items specifically starting with the letter S or Sîn (س in the Persian alphabet). The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. Originally called Haft Chin, the Haft Sin has evolved over time, but has kept its symbolism. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sîn table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Nowruzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.

This is the 7 sin table that I set.

The Haft Sin items are:

sîb (سیب)- apples - symbolizing beauty and health

sabzeh(سبزه) - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth

lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)

samanu (سمنو)- a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence (The glass on the left)

senjed (سنجد)- the dried fruit of the ole aster tree - symbolizing love (The glass on the right)

Rose water for its magical cleansing powers (in that red rose-water bottle at middle)

sîr (سیر)- garlic - symbolizing medicine

The Holy Quran for Muslims

A mirror and decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility)

I decorated and painted all eggs myself ;)

serkeh (سرکه)- vinegar - symbolizing age and patience

sekkeh (سکه)- coins (prosperity and wealth)

Divan of Hafez ( Hafez's poems book)

A glass with red and gold fish (life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving)

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In 4 hours, the New Year will be started. Yes, again we finished 1 year of our life with a complex of happy and sad times. Since I remember, it was a question for me that why God has created us? I ask myself this question at the end of per year and I am sorry that I do not have any answers yet.
For the New Year, I wish No War, No tears, No sad happening in the entire world. I hope all kind wishes come in true. Happy New Year!

Let's pray for a peace full World!

My dear friends, I am going to travel to Tehran tomorrow with a turned off cell phone and a closed lap top. With any lesson to study, any project to do. I am so tired and want to be a little relaxed. I'll update the blog on 27TH of March with many photos from other parts of Iran.

The Last Week of Year II

Last night was the traditional Persian celebration; Chahar-shanbe Suri. This is a unique and old celebration that Iranians have at the night last Wednesday of year. This custom was available in ancient Iran (Persia) and nowadays it is still alive. Since we were yet busy with our spring-cleaning yesterday and the last night of Mashhad was too cold and rainy, I stayed at home and could not take any photo from Chahar-shanbe Suri. If you like to know about this tradition please follow the link above.

Now Let's see the series II of my photos from The Last Week of Year!

The Last Week of Year I

We have just 3 days to finish the year 1387. Every things show us the spring. I can feel the smell of flowers well. People are busy with their shopping these days as they seem so happy and hopeful with all their life's difficulties. A week before Nowruz we have "Beneficence Celebration". Iran's government builds many stations in streets to collect people's charities for poor families. This is the best way that we can divide all our joys with others.
Today morning, I went out with my mom to shop since 8:00 Am and it was so enjoyable to take photo for me. I always loved the last week of the year, the lovely city of the last week is a different one and I am sure that such city is just in IRAN. I wish you could be here and feel the smell of LOVE and PEACE here.

Sabzeh , one of 7 sin 's (or 7 "S") Elements - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth

Different types of Sabzeh and flower for 7 sin table

Sonbol- the fragrant hyacinth flower , another elements of 7 sin that symbolizing the coming of spring

In the confectionery, people buy their favorite sweet such as traditional Iranian pastries like baghlava for new year and their gusts (this is a custom that people have gathering parties with their relatives in the new year). The number 88 shows the year 1388.

I could see the 7 sin sets in all sores today, like this antique one

Municipality tries to clean all parts of the city and paint the equipments

In the traditional way, Iranians have roast fish with steamed rice & vegetables for the first dinner of New Year

And we bought fish & fresh vegetables, too.

I will post more photos on my next update. I offer you do not miss my these days post ;)

Prophet Muhammad's Birthday

Prophet Muhammad 's mosque, Medina

The inside of mosque

(photos are taken at summer 2008)

In the Islamic calendar, the 12Th day of Rabi-al-Awwal marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
There is a difference of opinion about whether the Milad An-Nabi (Prohet Mohammad's Birthday) should be a time of celebration. There is evidence that the Prophet, his Companions, and the early followers after them did not celebrate or otherwise observe his birthday. On the contrary, Muhammad was careful to warn his people not to imitate other faiths, whose followers elevated their prophets and added to the religion what was not in the original teachings.
Those who disagree claim that although not practiced in the early years of Islam, the remembrance of the Prophet's birthday is a "good innovation." They see it as a time to read the Qur'an, and remember the life, teachings, and example of the Prophet Muhammad.

Reference of the text :about.com

Hajji Firuz eh...Sali ye ruz eh!

He sings : "Haji Firuz eh....sali ye ruz eh"

Hâjji Fîrûz or Hajji Piruz, is the traditional herald of Nowruz. He is a black-faced character clad in bright red clothes and a felt hat. While ushering in Nowruz, Hajji Firuz plays a tambourine and sings "Haji Firuz eh, sali ye ruz eh" (It is Haji Firuz time, It happens one day in a year). People of all ages gather around him and his troupe of musicians and listen to them play the drum, saz or kamancheh, and dance. to know the history please click here.

Text by wikipedia

While I was watching Hajji Firuz in the street, I just thought that "how we could live with out such symbols in our culture?! " I really can not suppose the new year with no Hajji Firuz!

Wheat is sprouted !

We have 10 days to finish the solar year (1387). The spring is coming and every thing is going to be new. I do not know that how much you have heard about the Iranian's customs for New Year. Since the solar calendar is the current calendar of our country, we celebrate the New Year after finishing 12 months of a solar year.
In the last days of the year, Iranians start to clean their homes. "Khaaneh Tekaani" in Farsi or spring-cleaning in English is one of our important New Year traditions that were also available in the ancient Iran. We believe that, we should make every thing clean or even new for a New Year. To me it is the philosophy of spring, to be new and fresh, like the nature.
And about my today's title! Sprouted wheat is the one of our other customs for New Year. In my future posts, you'll be known about it and other customs like "Chaharshanbe Suri"(the last Wednesday party) ,"Nowruz", "7 sin", etc. It would be so interesting for you, specially do not forget to see the post of 20Th of March!

Happy Sepandar Mazgan Day !

Sepandār mazgān is the celebration day of love and earth in ancient Iranian culture. This day is dedicated to Spenta Armaiti, Spandārmad in middle Persian, the middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times (224-654 CE) became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well.
It is celebrated the 29Th of Bahman in Iranian calendar. Modern folklore dates the celebration to ancient times and Zoroastrian tradition.the original date for this ceremony is 5Th of Esfand, and a popular revised date of 29Th Bahman is due to the disorganized calendering during the past 20 years.

(Text is written according to wikipedia)

I am sorry that some Iranian people do not know anything about this event in their culture and celebrate the Valentine day (which is refer to another culture) instead of it.

Another Birthday Came As Well

Days come and go...
So faster than what we suppose!
And today is my another birthday.I really can't believe that I'm 22 now!

Gloomy Evening Of Ashoura

Lighting candles is a custom at the evening of Ashoura. To remember the lonely night that Imam Hossein's family had at the end of that day.

Ya Hossein!
Last night was your lonely evening.
Do not forget us. We look forward to your intercession at doomsday…

Ashoura III

Why remember Ashuora ?

Why is Imam Hossein regarded as the "leader of the martyrs" ? It is because he was not just the victim of an ambitious ruler. There is no doubt that the tragedy of Kerbala, when ascribed to the killers, is a criminal and terrible act. However when ascribed to Hossein himself, it represents a conscious confrontation and a courageous resistance for a sacred cause. The whole nation had failed to stand up to Yazid. They had succumbed to his will, and deviation and regression towards the pre-Islamic ways were increasing.Passiveness by Imam Hossein in this situation would have meant the end of Islam as we know it. Thus Hossein took upon himself the responsibility of the whole nation. The greatest tragedy was that one who stood up for the noblest of causes, the defence of Islam, was cut down in so cruel a manner.It is for this reason that the sacrifice of Hossein is commemorated annually throughout the Muslim world. Our sorrow never abates as we relive the tragedy.

In Iran many people from other religions like christian and Jewish strongly believe in Imam Hossein as well as they take apart in Ashoura gatherings and respect Imam Hossein. This is a good example that shows the great event of Ashoura is not just for Muslims.

Alam is a kind of symbol for Ashoura event

Near Imam Reza shrine, Today every things are black to Muslims!

People are going to Imam Reza shrine to congregate for sorrowful

Some people use a kind of simple chain (called Zanjir, without knives or razors) to beat their shoulder just to make noise not to harm themselves.

Every day is Ashoura and every place is Karbala.Yeah, That is right. These days many innocent people experience Ashoura event again as Gaza became the other example of Karbala. How we can be quiet?! What is the difference between us and those who did not help Imam Hossein in Ashoura event?!

السلام عليك يا ابا عبدالله

Assalamu alayk Ya Aba Abde Allah

God's regards to you Ya Hossein!

Ashoura II

Who is Imam Hossein?
The leader of the small band of men who were martyred in Karbala was none other than Hossein, son of Ali ebn Abi Taleb (Imam Ali) and grandson of the Holy Prophet Mohammad. Who was Hossein? He was the son of Fatima for whom the Holy Prophet said, "Hossein is from me and I am from Hossein. May God love whoever loves Hossein."With the passing away of his brother Hasanin 50 AH, Hossein became the leader of the household of the Holy Prophet. On the other hand, we have Yazid, whose father (Muawiya) and grandfather (Abu Sufyan - the arch-enemy of the Prophet) had always tried to sabotage the mission of the Holy Prophet, and who showed his true colour by stating in a poem, "Bani Hashim had staged a play to obtain kingdom, there was neither any news from God nor any revelation." The revolution of Hossein was an Islamic movement spearheaded by one of the great leaders of Islam. The principles and laws of Islam demanded that Hossein act to warn the Ummah of the evil situation which it was in, and to stand in the way of the deviating ruler. As Hossein himself remarked when he left Medina for the last time, "I have risen (against Yazid) as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil." Hussain (A) was martyred on the battlefield as he did Sajdah. His head was removed from his body on the plains of Karbala, mounted on a spear, and paraded through villages and towns as it was taken to Damascus and presented at the feet of Yazid...

Special station that we can have tea and date there during these holy days of Moharram month

The Red flag, a sign for the day of Ashoura

I took this photo yesterday in my university, You see that we had an anniversary for Ashoura

An educated man was describing the reality of Ashoura for us

As Meead commented in the previous post some Muslims in any country or region have their own interpretation of some parts of this religion. Sometimes their interpretation is totally wrong and completely misunderstood. If you google Ashoura, you may find very sad and bloody pictures of people in Pakistan and Afghanistan who are doing crazy with their body. Ashoura doesn't mean that you have to harm yourself. No one benefits from their cruel behavior except those who are going to show Islam is a barbaric religion and Muslims are kind of barbars. Meead also mentioned to a speech by one an admirable Iranian cleric that he criticized Muslims doing such things on Ashoura. The cleric asked Muslims do they really think if "Hossein" was alive today, would he do the same?
These specific behaviors are now banned in Iran's public.Iranians often congregate together for sorrowful, poetic recitations performed in memory of the death of Hossein, lamenting and grieving to the tune of beating drums and chants of "Ya Hossein" and beating their chest. Some people also use a kind of simple chain (called Zanjir, without knives or razors) to beat their shoulder just to make noise not to harm themselves.

Ashoura is exactly the Revolution of Justice against Evil

Please follow my next post!

Ashoura I

Child in the special cloths to remember imam Hossein kid at the day of Ashoura

Ya (Hey) Hossein!

In the month of Moharram 61 AH (approx. 20 October 680 AD), an event took place in Iraq at a place known as Kerbala on the bank of the river Euphrates. A large army which had been mobilised by the Umayyad regime besieged a group of persons numbering less than a hundred and put them under pressure to pay allegiance to the Caliph of the time and submit to his authority. The small group resisted and a severe battle took place in which they were all martyred.It appeared at that time that like hundreds of similar events, this battle would be recorded in history and forgotten in time. However, the events that occurred on the 10Th day of Moharram in Karbala were to become a beacon and an inspiration for future generations...

Ashoura is exactly the Revolution of Justice against Evil

Please follow my next posts for the CONTINUANCE of text!