Ashoura Processions in Tehran

On Tuesday December 6, 2011, Shi'as across the Muslim World commemorated the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hussein (AS), their third imam and grandson of Prophet Muhammad, by the army of Yazid I, the second Umayyad caliph. The photos below picture the processions held in the central district of Galoubandak in Tehran, which is also home to many Shi'a Iraqi immigrants, in remembrance of the tragic death of Imam Hussein and his 72 companions in Karabala, Iraq. The rituals simulate the poignant events which took place on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month of the Arabic lunar calendar, nearly 1350 years ago. Green symbolizes Imam Hussein's warriors, while red is the color which was supposedly worn by Yazid's men. Tents of Imam Hussein's household were looted and torched by Yazid's army after Hussein and his faithful warriors were killed and beheaded.