Introduction to Imam Reza Shrine
Mashhad is one of the cities of Khorasan Razavi province, located in northeastern Iran. This city was the capital of Persia during the Afshari era and is currently the second-largest city in Iran after Tehran. Imam Reza Shrine is one of the most attractive tourist destinations and the most popular places where millions of pilgrims go every year. The Imam Reza Shrine complex is not only a sacred and religious place but also one of the prominent historical sites in Persia that has always been considered by kings and rulers of different periods.
Pilgrimage to Imam Reza shrine
Sometimes people look for a safe place to adjust to their physical and mental fatigue and return home with better energy. You can find such an energetic ambiance in Iran in one place; that is the Imam Reza shrine. In the holy shrine, you can sit for hours, staring at the golden dome of the sanctuary, refreshing your spirit. Dancing pigeons on top of the golden dome and porch will give you a good feeling of liberation, and a sense of light after the pilgrimage will light up your heart. On busy and noisy days, when your heart longs for a quiet place where you can sit alone for a few hours without worries, and spend in worship, the Imam Reza shrine is one of the best places in the world.
Traveling is always sweet and soulful. The experience of visiting the sights of different cities and feeling the atmosphere of each regenerates human beings. The strange mood that the Imam Reza shrine gives to a person cannot be described easily. You should walk in the courtyards and porches of the shrine, inhale the pleasant aroma of the environment, feel the positive energy that waves in the space, and be filled with it little by little.
Rites of pilgrimage to the shrine
The pilgrimage of a holy person has certain etiquettes just as going to an ordinary house or ceremony has. When we make a pilgrimage, the first step we must take is to know that person. How can we find enough enthusiasm and devotion when not apprehending the person we are going to meet? In the next step, we must seek a pure body and soul. A clean body is prepared with a bath, but a virtuous soul needs to be changed. It is better to be alone with ourselves before going on a pilgrimage. No one knows us better than we do about our mistakes, what we said, and what we thought. Try to make up for the faults as much as possible and finally repent. Now we can enter the shrine with a clean soul and body. Let us greet the great person, perform the prayer, and worship. Now the soul, body, and space are ready to approach the holy Imam Reza. We can mediate with the great Imam and ask God for our hearts’ desires. Finally, we make a pact to make up for mistakes we have had in life and wish happiness and a happy ending to all our friends and loved ones.
The Sound of Bells in Imam Reza Shrine
If you spend a few hours in the shrine, you will surely hear the sound of bells. There is a place on the east porch of the Revolutionary Court where seven of Imam Reza’s servants play the drums every day before sunrise and sunset. Musicians with three drums and four trumpets resonate in the shrine every morning and evening. Bells are played on religious holidays as well as when a person suffering from a disease is healed in the shrine. In the months of Muharram and Safar, they do not ring the bell due to mourning. According to the narrations, such a culture has been customary since the time of the Safavid kings. The Safavids had a special devotion to Imam Reza and established the custom to prevent the recitation of prayers and invite people to the shrine. This drumming also has the aspect of rituals and respect. Imam Reza was called Shah and Sultan, and special ceremonies have always been held in the court of kings and nobles to honor him, such as playing the trumpet and the tambourine.
Introduction Imam Reza Bazaar
Walking in the ancient and original bazaars with traditional architecture and their labyrinth creates indescribable excitement for us. Reza Bazaar of Mashhad is one of the largest bazaars in the city, which narrates a relatively long history. The bazaar is located near the Imam Reza shrine and on the eastern side of Imam Reza Street; in addition to being one of the most prominent bazaars in Iran economically, it has a specific charm and is considered a recreational and historical attraction.
History the Bazaar Reza
Such a famous and ancient bazaar is near the holy shrine of Razavi, so after visiting there, do not forget to wander in Reza Bazaar, which, filled with the Mohammadi (Damask) flowers aroma, is close to the shrine. The proximity of the bazaar to the holy shrine has caused its environment to have a spiritual spirit. Reza Bazaar of Mashhad was designed by Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi’s order during the Pahlavi era in 1976, containing 1711 shops. After the parliament approved the bazaar’s scheme, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in collaboration with engineer Dariush Borbor and the governor of Mashhad, demolished all the scattered shops and the old bazaar of Mashhad then ordered the bazaar on a land that was one kilometer long and 33 meters wide. It is interesting to know that the process of building Reza Bazaar took only 11 months. After the construction was completed, all the merchants whose shops had been demolished were given a shop in the new location to form the bazaar we see today.
Architecture Imam Reza Bazaar
Reza Bazaar in Mashhad looks like just one bazaar, however, it contains 6 separate bazaars in one building. In different parts of it, called Hashti (the vestibule), there are drinking fountains and benches for tourists to relax. In the design of Reza Bazaar gates, azure tiles, and brick texture are reminiscent of Persian architecture. At the same time, the type of arches and the general layout of the headboards are based on Islamic and Arabic architecture. You should know that the two entrance gates are similar. In the middle of the bazaar, there is a section built entirely based on Persian architecture, in the form of a porch. For this reason, the architecture of Reza Bazaar should be considered a combination of traditional Persian style and Islamic architecture. Reza Bazaar in Mashhad is like many other bazaars in Iran; The covered architectural style of the bazaar reminds people of famous indoor ones such as Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz or Qeyssariyeh Bazaar in Isfahan. Like these two famous bazaars, you can find souvenirs belonging to Mashhad on two floors.
Goods and workshops
From the moment you enter Reza Bazaar, you are thrilled by the excitement of the people and the merchants. Shopkeepers come to the front of their store, inviting you inside. Spice shops, turquoise and agate rings, textiles and cashmere, copperware, and hundreds of other colorful shops will dazzle your eyes.
Reza Bazaar does not belong to a specific class. However, in general, it can be considered a souvenir bazaar; among the famous souvenirs of Mashhad in Reza Bazaar are saffron, barberry, candy, precious stones and silver, all kinds of perfumes, cloths and prayer tents, Sajadeh carpet and prayer rugs, and varieties of seals and rosaries.
Gemstones in Imam Reza Bazaar
A type of precious stone called agate (Aqeeq). The most expensive agate is the Yemen agate. One of the ways to identify genuine and counterfeit agate is to have a chipped surface. The most famous of these chips in Iran are the Sabti lathe and the Ghatei lathe. Yemeni agates are jewels that have circular and crescent shapes with distinctive markings on their surface. You can find original agate from Reza Bazaar in Mashhad, also ask the skilled and expert artists to place your chosen gem in the form of a ring or necklace of your choice.
Another famous ornamental stone that is from Neyshabur and can be found in Mashhad is turquoise. Such a gorgeous stone is used as a jewel to enhance as many ornaments as possible, including rings, necklaces, and bracelets. You can find turquoise in abundance in Reza Bazaar in Mashhad. If you are looking for a specific souvenir, it is better to choose turquoise. It is not only a unique souvenir of Mashhad but also a prominent gem. In general, the goods in Reza Bazaar are diverse and you can find everything you need there. There are several colorful stores that you will even enjoy watching their shop windows. On the second floor of this spectacular place, some workshops making handicrafts, goldsmithing, embroidery, and turquoise. When visiting Reza Bazaar, you will not notice the passage of time due to the variety of goods and shops.