This year, the mourning of Muharram and Ashura was celebrated in Iran in a more emotional atmosphere than before. Lakhs of people remembered the martyrdom of Imam Hussain by wearing black clothes. This time’s Muharram was special because it was the first Muharram after the US-Israel attacks that started on February 28. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, many senior military officers and thousands of civilians were killed in these attacks. Therefore, this time people remembered the martyrs of Karbala as well as those who lost their lives in the recent war.
This year in Iran, the 10th date of Muharram i.e. Ashura was celebrated on Thursday. Lakhs of people took to the streets in cities and villages across the country. People mourned by beating their chests, listened to Nauhe (mourning songs) and shed tears on the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. Mourning processions took place everywhere and the voices of Ya Hussain kept echoing.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Karaj, Iran, for Muharram processions on the eve of Tasua, the ninth day of the lunar month. pic.twitter.com/d4zVxa4SwH
— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) June 24, 2026
Importance of Ashura for Shia Muslims
The day of Ashura is celebrated in memory of the battle of Karbala which took place in 680 AD. On this day, Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed and the third Imam of Shia Muslims, was martyred along with his 72 companions. He fought against injustice and sacrificed his life in front of the army of thousands of soldiers of Umayyad ruler Yazid I. Therefore, the martyrdom of Imam Hussain is still considered the biggest symbol against injustice and oppression.
During Muharram, people all over Iran distributed ‘Nazari’ i.e. free food. This food was given to mourners and needy people. It is considered a symbol of Imam Hussain’s teachings of humanity, service and generosity.
The atmosphere among mourners of Imam Hussein (AS) following the Ashura noon ceremony on the street leading to the site of the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
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— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) June 25, 2026
Tasua was celebrated a day earlier
Tasua was celebrated a day before Ashura. Hazrat Abbas, step brother of Imam Hussain, was remembered on this day. He was martyred while trying to bring water to thirsty children and women in Karbala.
Apart from Iran, Shia Muslims around the world also held mourning programs. At the same time, millions of pilgrims from Iran and many other countries reached the holy city of Karbala in Iraq, where homage was paid at the shrine of Imam Hussein.
Traditional mourning ceremonies, elegy recitation, and nakhl-gardani (palm procession) are held in the historic village of Estark, Kashan, where local groups maintain centuries-old Muharram traditions.
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— PressTV Extra (@PresstvExtra) June 25, 2026
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