Ashura

Tehran, Iran

2020

Ashura is one of the most important Muslim festivals. Shiites mourn the day Hossein ibn Ali and his companions were killed in battle in Karbala with Omar Sad’s army.

This year, the ceremony in Tehran took place under strict health protocols.

I went to the Grand Bazaar and started taking photos of people having their their temperatures checked before entering the mosque. They all wore wore masks and gloves, and were given disinfectant alcohol. After leaving the mosque, the would eat VOTIVE food.

After noon call to prayer, Ta’zieh would begin. An Iranian-Shiite traditional play about the suffering and killing of Hossein ibn Ali, when all Shiites would weep and mourn.

The Ashura ceremony begins on the morning of the 10th day after Tasoua

(Tasu’a, the day before Ashura the same as Ta’zieh)near the bazaar in Tehran.

So many people attend the ceremony, including men and women from Afghanistan, Everyone was given masks to prevent the transmission of Covid.

Men enter a tent which is then set on fire, and they escape the flames. Because of the heat, I took all my photos and videos from a fire truck nearby.

After the fire is extinguished, people walk barefoot over the hot ashes with a piece of burnt cloth, blessing to Hossein inn Ali.