The Taft Palm Tree Rotation Ceremony
The ritual of rotating the palm trees in Taft is one of the most exciting spiritual ceremonies in Yazd province. This ceremony is held every year during the month of Muharram and the days of mourning for Imam Hussein (AS). Many enthusiastic people participate in this ceremony. This ceremony is one of the registered spiritual heritages of the country, and its global registration has been on the agenda of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Yazd province for several years.
One of the ancient meanings of “nakhl” (palm tree) is coffin and decorating the coffin. The meaning of “nakhl” in the Ashura ceremony is also the same. Rotating the palm trees is a symbolic ceremony that is held on the day of Ashura in many parts of Iran to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the third Imam of Shiites, and his companions in the event of Karbala in 61 AH. “Nakhl” is the Persian equivalent of the word “palm tree”. There are various narrations to explain the reason for this naming, but the closest possibility is the use of branches of the date palm tree to carry the body of Imam Hussein in the event of Karbala. Nevertheless, some believe that this naming might be due to the construction of old palm trees from the leaves and trunk of the date palm tree, and it might also be because of the sanctity of the date palm tree among Iranians. The exact origin of this ritual is not clear, but it is likely that this mourning practice dates back to the Safavid era and the formalization of Shiism in Iran.
In this ceremony, a large and heavy wooden structure, which is decorated with various ornaments, is placed on four wooden pillars, with its sides made of wooden lattice. The palm tree frame resembles a small room with a vaulted roof. This structure symbolizes the coffins of the martyrs. Several days before the rotating of the palm trees ceremony, on the day of Ashura, the staff decorate the symbolic coffin with black and green cloths, palm leaves, and other plants and flowers, frames of local martyrs, small and large mirrors, and colorful scarves. This decoration is called “nakhl decoration”, and each element used for decoration has a symbolic meaning and refers to individuals or events related to the event of Karbala. For example, the palm tree symbolizes the body of the Imam, the spear symbolizes the arrows that struck the Imam’s body, the bells symbolize the bells of the Imam’s caravan, and the standard symbolizes Hazrat Abbas. The cypress symbolizes the stature of Imam Ali, the mirror symbolizes the light of Imam Hussein, and the colorful scarves symbolize the bridal chamber of Qasim ibn Hasan, and so on.
The Ashura ceremony is not just a palm tree rotation ceremony; rather, this symbolic gesture is actually the culmination of the mourning narrative and a symbol of carrying the body of the Imam on the afternoon of Ashura after his martyrdom. This ceremony, which begins on the morning of the tenth of Muharram, brings together a large crowd of people in the Hosseiniyeh. This large gathering is one of the beautiful cultural, social, and religious aspects of the ceremony that gives it a special charm. The value and significance of mourning and lamentation in the presence of this crowd are highlighted, and sherbet is distributed, incense is burned, and sacrificial sheep are offered. On this day, everyone is treated to dishes prepared through alms, vows, and sacrifices.
What distinguishes the Taft palm tree rotation ceremony from other cities in Iran is its adherence to all the original traditions of this ritual from the past to the present. In addition, the presence of a large number of native and non-native people, Iranians and foreigners, and the spontaneous participation of mourning groups (processions) have made this ceremony very special. A several-kilometer march to the Hosseiniyeh of mourning and recitation of elegies takes place. When they reach the Hosseiniyeh, the ceremony reaches its peak. As they approach the palm tree, they suddenly slow down. Then, along with those who had previously settled there, they go under the palm tree, lift it up, and everyone beats their chest and cries. Then, they rotate the palm tree three to five times in the Hosseiniyeh and finally place it back in its place.
The skeletons of the palm trees are kept in the Hosseiniyeh and mosques for the rest of the year. Although palm tree rotation is common in most cities of South Khorasan, Semnan, Qom, cities of Isfahan province, and generally in desert areas of Iran, Taft holds the oldest and most authentic type of this ceremony. In recent years, various preparations have been made by various organizations to attract foreign tourists to this event.
