Cultural Studies
S.Y. Khatami; S.A. Safavi; S.M. Khatami
Abstract
Muharram commemoration to remember sacrifices made by Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions is one of the special and deep-rooted Islamic events, tied to spirituality for centuries. These processions are often held in specific routes or ‘mourning pathways. These ...
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Muharram commemoration to remember sacrifices made by Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions is one of the special and deep-rooted Islamic events, tied to spirituality for centuries. These processions are often held in specific routes or ‘mourning pathways. These paths and related spaces over time, in addition to being memorable and creating identity, have become spiritual in their own ways. But the contemporary Iranian urban planning pays more attention to material aspects and has moved away from spiritual spaces. Extensive physical changes and interventions in traditional cities, as well as threats and damage to mourning pathways, highlight the need for further research. This article, using comparative-qualitative studies and bringing evidence and numerous examples from different Iranian cities and emphasizing Ardabil, has tried to interpret the collected data, while proving and introducing mourning pathways as sacred and spiritual paths, determine their spiritual dimensions and aspects. The spiritual effects of mourning before and after the events along with their margins have been studied. The results show that various sacred-religious, physical-spatial, cultural-social, historical-political and natural factors constitute mourning pathways and then the socio-cultural dimension added weight to it. On the one hand, these pathways connect spaces to history, and on the other hand, they add a special symbolic and semantic dimension that distinguishes them from other paths.
Rasoul Rabbani; Seyyed ali Hashemianfar; Mohmmad Ganji
Abstract
In order to give an explanation of "Ghame-Zani" in Khmoeini Shahr city of Isfahan province, the present study is dealt with the role of cultural factors effective in "Ghame-Zani". The statistical population is included in the inhabitants of Khomeini Shahr ("Ghame-zani" participants, spectators and crowds ...
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In order to give an explanation of "Ghame-Zani" in Khmoeini Shahr city of Isfahan province, the present study is dealt with the role of cultural factors effective in "Ghame-Zani". The statistical population is included in the inhabitants of Khomeini Shahr ("Ghame-zani" participants, spectators and crowds of people). Amongst them 411 people were selected as a sample size of 69.8% males and 30.2% females, respectively. The methodology was survey research and the quota sampling method was applied as it is sensitive to the selection of studied group. Exploring the said statistical population on the basis of the prepared questionnaire led to some conclusions some of which are set forth as follows: Although there are some women attending "Ghame-Zani" in Khomeini Shahr, the frequency of "Ghame-Zani" is greater in men than women; there was no significant difference in "Ghame-Zani" among the single and the married individuals; the employed are more involved in "Ghame-Zani" rather than the unemployed; the people with an education level of below high school studies participate in "Ghame-Zani" more frequently than those with higher education; the frequency of "Ghame-Zani" in Foroushan parish in Khomeini Shahr is the highest and in Varnosfaderan parish the lowest, respectively; income rate has no impact on "Ghame-Zani" among the studied population. In addition, among the several incentives for "Ghame-Zani" the most important ones are concerned with culture; i.e. commemorating the sad events of "Ashura", respect for elders and ancestors, fulfillment of "Nazr-o-Niaz" (spiritual vows and oblations), consolidation and continuation of the culture of mourning and so forth.
