INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
lunar month of Muharram.It is the time when thousands of locals eagerly commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS) and his
loyal companions, slain in 680 CE at Karbala in modern-day Iraq.Holidaymakers may attend mourning ceremonies, such as Nakhl-Gardani or
historical and religious narrations; and Sineh-Zani [beating the chest].Over the past decade, Yazd has been a major destination for foreign
traditionally attended by many domestic travelers as well as people from France, Germany, Belgium, China, Turkey, Russia, the Netherlands,
Brazil, Switzerland, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, the UK, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Romania, Australia,
and Thailand, to name a few.Referring to Yazd as a destination for religious tourism, its deputy tourism chief on Monday said the province
host more than one hundred special religious rituals during Muharram and Safar to commemorate the slaying of Imam Hussein (AS), a grandson
approach, religious rituals are perhaps a recreation of collective memories that help to shape what is known as collective identity, an
essential foundation for a sense of belonging
One such ritual is the mourning ceremony
Rich with symbolism, most of which have historical values, these ceremonies are a platform where communal beliefs and ideas about life and
death are acknowledged and as people unite in grief and hope for consolation, they search for new meanings of life and reevaluate and
confirm the foundation of their beliefs.Muharram and the following month, Safar (which includes a commemoration of the aftermath of Karbala)
are a period of lamentation for Muslims
War and fighting are prohibited during Muharram and festivities like weddings and birthdays are usually postponed to more appropriate days
People generally wear black out of respect or at least avoid wearing very bright colors.They say the core meaning of Muharram is beyond such
mere bereavement and commemoration of the past
Karbala was an actual and metaphorical venue where the Truth confronted the Lie, where justice spoke vibrant and audible in the face of
prejudice, and where courage, passion, and devotion preceded attachment, worldliness, and obstinacy.The saga is narrated to tell us that
compared to the Pyrrhic and momentary victory of injustice, integrity and honesty will always stand the test of time as today the life of
Imam Hussein (AS) is honored by millions across the world while the account of his enemies is nearly lost in oblivion
The story also lives to tell us that the majority is not always right
Even if the army of Truth is small, it still is magnanimous in what it stands for.In July 2017, the historical core of Yazd was named a
The city is full of mudbrick houses that are equipped with innovative badgirs (wind catchers), atmospheric alleyways, and many Islamic and
Iranian monuments that shape its eye-catching city landscape.Cultural heritage experts believe that Yazd is a living testimony to the
intelligent use of limited available resources in the desert for survival
Water is brought to the city by the qanat system
Each district of the city is built on a qanat and has a communal center
Furthermore, the use of earth in buildings includes walls and roofs through the construction of vaults and domes
Houses are built with courtyards below ground level, serving underground areas
Wind-catchers, courtyards, and thick earthen walls create a pleasant microclimate.The historical core of Yazd is chockful of mudbrick
houses, bazaars, public bathhouses, water cisterns, mosques, synagogues, Zoroastrian temples, and centuries-old gardens
From the divine point of view, the city enjoys the peaceful coexistence of three religions: Islam, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism.Yazd is home
to numerous qanats which have supplied water to agricultural and permanent settlements for thousands of years
The man-carved underground qanat system relies on snow-fed streams flowing down the foothills of surrounding mountains
The earliest water supply to Yazd is estimated to date from the Sassanid era (224 to 651 CE)
However, many others have been continually repaired and used over time, and most surviving Ab-Anbars (traditional mudbrick cisterns) can be
today traced to the late Safavid and Qajar periods.Yazd Water Museum is a must-see destination for the ones interested to know about the
brave men who built such underground aqueducts in the past
Located in a restored mansion with a visible qanat running underneath, the museum offers its visitors a fascinating glimpse into the hidden
world of qanats through a series of photographs, exhibits, and architectural drawings
It represents nearly 2000 years of unique irrigation structure that has been in operation, yet describes the drilling of mother wells and
associated underground water networks stretched to the ancient city.AFM
