Poosh Douzi (Canopy Making) Art of Yazd

Before the arrival of the month of Muharram, the people of Yazd start decorating their husayniyyas and preparing these places for mourning ceremonies. Poosh Douzi and the process of installing Poosh, which is called “Poosh Balakoni”, is one of the activities that begin in Yazd for commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Husayn (AS) and his companions.

What Is Poosh Douzi?

Poosh is a type of large canopy that is used to create a temporary shelter, and Poosh Douzi is the art and craft of making it. Although Poosh is a common covering, it is mostly used in Yazd to create temporary roofs on yards or open spaces during the months of Muharram and Safar morning programs. Usually, a few days before the start of Muharram, Poosh is spread over the area and removed one or two days after the end of the mourning ceremony. Other uses of Poosh are for setting up field tents and fire tents and creating cover and shade for places and shops. Field tents are usually sewn in a conical shape, and their floor diameter and height are a maximum of five meters. The products of this art and craft are mainly used in setting up Mawkibs (service stations located in Shiite religious sites or during Shiite religious occasions where pilgrims and people can receive food, tea, and sweet drinks) in high-traffic places to welcome mourners. Some of the products are also used in Ta’zia to depict how Imam Husayn’s tents were set on fire on the Day of Ashura. Since these canopies must be dismantled or expanded every day according to the angle of the sunshine, they are mounted on a light metal frame to allow quick and easy adjustment or folding.

Since Imam Husayn’s mourning places have different dimensions and plans, sewing these canopies must also match different conditions. In this way, sometimes the canopies are in one piece and sometimes in several pieces. The multi-piece covers are tied together with rope after they are carried to the top of the wall or roof for spreading. This work is very precise and requires a lot of patience and experience. In addition, the sewing of large covers should be done with the cooperation of several people in workshops that have suitable dimensions and the utmost precision should be used, because a slight error may make it difficult to pair different pieces.

Stages of Poosh Douzi

The first stage in Poosh Douzi is to measure the dimensions of the place where the canopy will be installed. After that, the fabric is cut and holes are made in the edges for tying them together. The large Pooshes also have several holes for ventilation. In the next step, the striping operation is performed. This work is very necessary and helps to strengthen the Poosh. The strips have a significant thickness and a width of nearly 10 cm and are sewn on the Poosh in a grid form. In the last stage, motifs and decorations are sewn on the Poosh. These motifs are sometimes selected according to the customer’s order. The cedar motif, which has a bold place in traditional Iranian design, is one of the most popular motifs in Poosh Douzi. Also, the pattern of lion, deer, angels, and poems of Mohtsham Kashani (Elegy poet of the 16th century AD Iran) are among the most used decorations in this art and craft, each of which has a special symbolic meaning. Mohtsham’s poems are usually stitched with citrus bergamia patterns on the bottom edge of the Poosh.

For large canopies, a long iron pole is erected in the middle of the area and one side of the canopy is tied to it. Then several groups simultaneously tie different pieces of cloth to strong nails that have already been hammered into the wall or roof. On hot days of the year, Poosh prevents the sun from shining on the mourners. Due to the special texture of this cover and its material, air can pass through it making the space comfortable even on the hottest days of the year

National Register of the Art of Embroidery

According to what the elders of Yazd have narrated, Poosh Douzi is a profession with a history dating back to the Qajar era (19th century). The close connection of this art and craft with the Muharram mourning programs in Yazd, which is considered one of the most original cultural manifestations of this city, has caused it to be inscribed on the list of Iran’s intangible national heritage in the year 2022 AD.