The 17th of Shawwal (the tenth month of the lunar calendar) is commemorated in Iran as the anniversary of Imam Ali’s heroic fight in the Battle of Khandaq (626 AD), which is also celebrated as Day of Pahlevani Culture and Zourkhaneh (traditional gymnasium) Sports.

Pahlevani and zourkhaneh rituals was included in UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010 as a traditional system of athletics and a form of martial arts originally used to train warriors in Iran.

According to Mahdi Gheisari Nik, Deputy for Museums: “Some of the paraphernalia for Pahlevani culture and zourkhaneh sports such as Indian clubs, push-up boards, bows, special clothes, etc. are kept in Imam Reza shrine museums”.

The armbands of some prominent pahlevans are also put on display in the museums, the most famous of which is that of Gholamreza Takhti’s won by the late Iranian athlete in 1956, 1957 and 1958.

“The central museum of the shrine holds traditions athletic rituals of Iran in a very high regard through safeguarding and showcasing championship medals and belts donated by well-known pahlevans”, said Abdol Hossein Malek Ja’farian, head of treasury section of the shrine museums.

For over two decades, the Documentation Center of Imam Reza shrine has launched oral history project, which is aimed at collecting, registering and recording first-hand memories regarding a specific event or rituals, etc. via interviewing witnesses and experts in various fields.