Muharram event is the most important yearly event in Tabriz grand bazaar that has been held from more than 500 years ago. It is about Imam Hussain’s (3rd. leader of Shia) death more than 1400 years ago which happened in Karbala desert.
That event is important for Iranian Shia papulation because of that they hold this religious happen in the important places in the cities. Despite the passing of centuries, the event is still very popular and it held with the enthusiasm of the people in the magnificent Tabriz market.
Appearance of all parts and halls of Tabriz grand bazaar, especially Mozafariyeh hall change to Muharram style. Some days before Tasoa & Ashora marketing stop in grand bazaar. Only some of the markets provide charity services to mourners of Imam Hussain. Mourning bands of all neighborhoods of Tabriz come to Timcheh and Mourning until night. This event happens from 8 to 12rd of Muharram.
Husseini Mourning Board in deferent types of lamentation with special flags and garbs come to the bazaar. Grand Bazaar has its own rules for Muharram event for example usage of musical instruments which common for lamentation forbidden for all groups. In addition women can’t attend in bazaar during event.
Besides mourning, some people play Shabih (religious theaters). These theaters simulation of what happened in Karbala to Imam and his followers. People from deferent parts of the city and in deferent kinds of lamentation and grabs make this event considerable.
Arab Group: they wear a long dress like dishdasha (an ankle-length Arabian garment) which is called Atak. The collar of this dress is in the form of a large square up to the chest which able to open and close for comfortable sineh_zani (Chest beating). The color of their clothes is black and they have fast and rhythmic sineh_zani beside Noheh (tragic religious poem).
Ajam group: they wear black suite and walk Shoulder to shoulder. they take the coat with the left hand and chest beating with the right hand. Their Sineh-zani are slow and rhythmic with a low sound of Hey.
zanjir Zanan (they use the chains for mourning): They dress black shirts and trousers, sometimes they dishdasha, men regularly go and chains the shoulders with a rhythmic song.
Daily, 24 groups of locals from the historic sites of Tabriz mourn in the market based on clear planning that identifies the time and place of the groups entering the bazaar. This program starts at 10 am.
At the same time, some religious plays of the Karbala war are on the bazaar Timchehs. This part of Muharram is very magnificent in Tabriz. The culture of Muharram has not changed in Tabriz especially in grand bazaar.
