Takhtehzani of the People of Firooz Salar Village

Honoring Imam Husain (AS) and his companions, who were unjustly martyred on the Day of Ashura in the year 61 AH (680 AD) for defending the truth in an unequal battle against the army of Yazid bin Muawiyah, is one of the pillars of Iranian culture. Since the distant past, Iranians mourn in the month of Muharram in order to honor the sacrifices of Imam Husain (AS) and his companions and to pledge allegiance to them.

Mourning rituals are held in different styles according to the culture of the people. In the Firooz Salar Village of Azarshar County, people mourn and express their devotion to Imam Husain (AS) in a special way on the day of Tasu’a. The style, which has become famous as “Takhtehzani of the People of Firooz Salar Village” has been inscribed on the list of intangible national heritage of Iran.

Where Is Firooz Salar Village Located?

Firooz Salar is one of the villages of Azarshahr County located in the west of East Azarbaijan Province, which was known as “Dehkhwarqan” in the past. Firooz Salar Village has about two thousand and 500 inhabitants and in this respect, it is considered as one of the largest villages in Azarshahr. There are several historical sites in Firooz Salar, including a bathhouse and a historical mansion, which manifest the antiquity of the village. The occupation of most of the people of this village is agriculture.

The Features of Firooz Salar Takhtehzani

In the belief of the people of Firooz Salar Village, their special form of mourning is to pay respect to Hazrat Ali Akbar, the eldest son of Imam Husain (AS), and Hazrat Qasim, the son of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), the second Imam of Shiites and the elder brother of Imam Husain. These two noble people fought bravely against the enemy on the Day of Ashura and were eventually martyred.

In the afternoon of Tasu’a, the mourners leave in groups from certain points. On the way of the procession, other people stand in front of their houses and distribute the gifts and offerings they have prepared for receiving the mourners. Mourners form two rows and drum, trumpet, and cymbal players who stand in between the two rows, play these instruments in the form of triplets. The presence of these instruments, which were used in the old days to announce wars, is a metaphor for being present in the plain of Karbala and defending Imam Husain (AS).

The form of playing this instrument creates a pattern for hitting the wooden boards (called Takhteh in Persian) that are held by the mourners. The “Takhteh” is a piece of wood with a handle with a thickness of about 3 cm. The size of the handle of this board reaches 10 to 20 cm. In the first two strokes of the triplet, the mourners bang the boards they hold together close to their knees, and in the third stroke, they do the same above their heads. Mourners also chant “Husain” at the same time as they play the third beat. One or more people also, simultaneously sing related lyrics that are mainly in praise and lamentation of Imam Husain, Hazrat Ali Akbar, or Hazrat Qasim bin Al Hasan. At times the mourners perform the third strike of the boards with a jump to show their passion.

Several “Alams” (flags), which are made of black and colored cloths and have the names of the martyrs of Karbala on them, move in front of the mourning procession. It is customary for elderly people to walk in front of the group, young people and teenagers in the middle of the group, and children at the end. Usually, the ritual of Takhtehzani of the People of Firooz Salar Village ends around Tasu’a evening.

The Takhtehzani ritual of the People of Firooz Salar Village was inscribed on the list of Iran’s intangible national heritage in the year 2012.

In the belief of the people of Firooz Salar Village, their special form of mourning is to pay respect to Hazrat Ali Akbar, the eldest son of Imam Husain (AS), and Hazrat Qasim, the son of Imam Hasan Mujtaba (AS), the second Imam of Shiites and the elder brother of Imam Husain.