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!

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!

Takhti Square

Here is Takhti square.One of old parts of Mashhad and my dad neighbour when he was a child.The appearance of this square is changed but the name of it is still Takhti.Takhti was the most famous wrestler in Iranian history. He was most famous for his chivalrous behaviour and sportsmanship, and he continues to symbolize the essence of sports to the Iranian people.

In 1961, a terrible earthquake occurred in Boein Zahra in western Iran, killing 45,000. Takhti was deeply touched by the suffering. Already one of Iran's biggest stars, he began to walk one of the main avenues of Tehran, asking for assistance for the victims. He inspired other champions to follow in his footsteps, and thousands gave to alleviate the suffering.
Another example of his character comes from a match in Moscow. After defeating the then world champion Anatoli Albul, Takhti saw the sorrow on the face of Albul's mother. Takhti went to her and said, "I'm sorry about the result, but your son is a great wrestler." She smiled and kissed him.
And another memory of him that clarifies his character more: Once he had a match with Russian wrestler Alexander Medved who had an injured right knee. When Takhti found out that he was injured, he never attacked the leg. Instead, he tried to catch the other leg. It shows that he valued honourable behaviour more than reaching victory.Alexander Medved, out of respect, has visited Takhti's grave many times in Iran over the years.

Reference of the history:Wikipedia

Mehdi Akhavan: Thou this Ancient Land, I adore thee

Mehdi Akhavan Saless was a prominent Persian poet. He is one of the pioneers of Free Verse (New Style Poetry) in Persian language. He was born in 1928 in Mashhad and died in 1990 and buried in his home town. His tomb is so simple (the simplest I've ever seen). Sometimes I think he is not well admired. Akhavan's forte is epic; more precisely, he chooses themes of epical proportion. I love his poems as well as many other Iranians.

From all things earthly, if I acclaim
Thee this land so ancient, I adore

Thee the birth place of so many nobles
Cherisher of magnanimity, I adore

Thine Ormuzd and Yazatas, I revere

To thine ancient prophet
A wisdom seeking sage whom I adore

The noble Zarathushtra, more so than
all other sages and prophets I adore

Humanity better than him has not seen and will not
and this noblest of humanity I adore

His trios the best guide for the world
This concise, impactful guide I adore

This great Iranian a leader
This Iranian leader I adore

Never killed, nor asked others to
This noble role modeling I adore

Tine Ferdowsi, the legendary literary tower he erected
placed in the hall of fame and glory, I adore

تو را ای کهن بوم و بر دوست دارم
مهدی اخوان ثالث