The golden dome of the shrine and the courtyards have all been black-clad since July 6, and mourning chants resonate across the shrine.
Imam Reza shrine hosts millions of pilgrims yearly, who head to Mashhad to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussain, the third Shia Imam and Prophet Muhammad’s grandson.
Several special programs have been designed in the shrine for the first ten days of Muharram such as Quran recitation, eulogies, religious speeches and mourning ceremonies, etc.
On the day of Ashura, which literally means the 10th day of Muharram, Iranians and non-Iranians commemorate the bravery of Imam Hussein (AS) along with his 72 loyal companions who were all martyred in the battle of Karbala (AD 680/AH 61).