This post was originally published in my old travel blog, Erudite Traveller in 2017.
“It’s Ashura,” my guide said, surprised and confused when I asked why there were so many people on Tehran’s streets close to midnight. She probably assumed that I knew that I will be in her country during a religious holiday. I didn’t. I wasn’t prepared to travel in Iran on Ashura.
Ashura, or the tenth day of the Muharram (the first month in the Islamic calendar), is considered one of the most important religious holidays for Shia Muslims. Iran is a Shia-majority country.
Not knowing it was Ashura was the equivalent of someone visiting a Western country on December 25th and not knowing it was Christmas. There was a somewhat festive sense in the air; people were out and about, speakers blasted religious recitations, free food abounded in every street corner. Except everyone was in mourning attire as Ashura commemorates a sad event. As a sign of respect, all of Iran’s museums, bazaars, and other spots of interest, were close.
Armed with this knowledge but with nothing better to do, I hiked to Golestan Palace, the old residence of the Qajar monarchs and a UNESCO World Heritage site early next morning, a Saturday, and found the gates locked. All shops in the nearby Tehran Grand Bazaar also appeared close. While dejectedly walking in an empty and deserted bazaar thinking of somewhere else to go to, a distinguished-looking older gentleman approached me and asked if I’d like coffee. He probably felt sorry for me. And also if there’s something you need to know about me, I like free stuff. So my ears perked up when I heard the magic word.
“Why, yes,” I said.
And that’s when my day turned around. Mr. Ali marched me to a small alley inside the bazaar, leading to an old tea shop. I didn’t know then that the Haj Ali Darvish Tea House is famous all over the world for being the smallest tea house and for its great coffee and tea. People from different countries who visit Tehran make sure to drop by the Haj Ali Darvish Tea House and have their picture taken in front of the famous shopfront (which I failed to do, dammit!). You can check the tea house’s Instagram account to see its international visitors.
The tea house shopfront proudly advertised it as having been in existence for more than 100 years. The owner gave me a small paper cup of very good dark coffee. In honor of Ashura, he was giving free coffee to the poor, who were the honored guests of Imam Hussein, a holiday tradition.
What was amazing was that one can’t stand empty-handed anywhere for a few seconds until somebody approaches with various donations of tea, hot chocolate drinks, potatoes, honey water, lentil soup, chocolate wafers, and bread. I never had so much lentil soup until that day.
Mr. Ali served as my Dante to the labyrinths of Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, guiding into the depths of Iran’s Ashura celebration very few foreigners are privileged to experience.
Iranians, both online and offline, were eager to hear about my impressions of the country as a tourist and were very welcoming, even though I’m non-Muslim. They knew I’m not a Muslim because I told them. People constantly slid into my Instagram DMs (most were non-creepy, a few decidedly so) recommending places for me to visit or just asking me about places I’ve visited so far.
In case you find yourself in Tehran during Ashura, here are some of the things you can do to have a solemn yet enjoyable and meaningful activities during this holiday.
How to spend a solemn Ashura in Tehran as a Non-Muslim
Wander inside the Tehran Grand Bazaar
Luckily, I was one of the few foreigners hanging around the Grand Bazaar that day and Mr. Ali sort of endorsed to me to the people manning the cooking vats so that I can walk around the preparation area and taste the food ahead of those in line.
Further into the heart of the Grand Bazaar was the venue of the procession. I tried to access the inner sanctum but I was barred by the religious guards dressed in green. I was haram, forbidden, they told Mr. Ali. I cannot be allowed inside. A bowl of lentil soup materialized out of nowhere so I joined some men eating soup on the hood of a car instead.
I was content in looking at the closed shopfronts were many intricate alam – the coat of arms of Imam Hussein – were displayed. And even though I wasn’t able to have a closer on the procession, I spent my time observing how the male (women where nowhere to be found) pilgrims mentally and emotionally prepared themselves for the remembrances of the sacrifices of Imam Hussein.
Men dressed in black were reciting passages on the Battle of Karbala, slamming their chests in unison, many of them crying. Men flagellated themselves with zanjir, sticks with chains. For Filipinos with nothing better to watch on television during Good Friday, these are very familiar scenes.
Visit the Imam Khomeini Mosque
The Imam Khomeini Mosque, also known as the Old Shah Mosque, was built during the reign of the Qajars to help legitimize their new dynasty. It features a pool in the middle of a vast courtyard and beautiful tiled domes. Many famous Persian artists have contributed to the tile and calligraphy work of the mosque. The Imam Khomeini Mosque can be accessed from many points within the Grand Bazaar; there is also an access area from the street south of Golestan.
See the glass-decorated Imam Zadeh Zeid Mosque
Imam Zadeh Zeid Mosque, also within the Grand Bazaar, is intricately decorated with glass, rivaled only by the glass work found in the famous Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. Imam Zadeh means “a descendant of an Imam”, i.e., descendants of Muhammad, and entry into the grounds is a bit more strict. Women are required to wear a chador. Luckily, they are also very welcoming and they have chadors available for visitors to borrow at the entrance.
Watch a Ta'zieh
Ta’zieh is a drama based on the narrative of the Battle of Karbala and the death of Imam Hussein. It depicts the Battle of Karbala as the ultimate fight between good and evil. I was lucky to catch a ta’zieh was being staged in a tent overflowing with people in front of the Bazaar-e-Kaffash-ha (shoemakers market). It was a modern performance, with the actors in full regalia wielding prop swords singing the laments of Hussein on a microphone while the sound engineer was busily adjusting the bass in the background.
People watch in Valiasr - Tehran's longest street
Valiasr is Tehran’s longest street and home to its main shopping district. Mellat Park and Tehran City Theatre are very excellent places to hang out in in the evening while watching and observing the Tehrani. While I was there, processions were held along the main street, which can be observed from the roadside restaurants. Dinner along Valiasr is the perfect opportunity to soak in the unique confluence of cosmopolitan and religious in Iran on Ashura.
Despite not being able to see the usual places frequented by visitors, like the Golestan Palace, I was glad that I witnessed and took part in this slice of life in Tehran.
This post is part of my series on my Silk Road trip.
Post 1 (this post): Accidental Pilgrim in Iran on Ashura
Post 2: Wandering in Tehran on Ashura
Post 3: Communing with the Devout in Mashhad
Post 4: The 3,000-year old Kang Village in Mashhad, Iran
Post 5: Crossing the Iran-Turkmenistan Border
Post 6: A Visit to Ancient Merv
Post 7: The Wonderfully Strange City of Ashgabat
Post 8: A Stopover in the Parthian Citadel in Old Nisa
Post 9: Riding an Akhal Teke Horse in Turkmenistan
Post 10: Overnight Tour of Darvaza Gas Crater
Post 11: The Beautiful Ruins of Konye-Urgench
