Journal of Razavi Culture

Investigating Factors Influencing the Spread of Imam Reza’s Birthday Celebration from the Qajar Era to the Islamic Revolution

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ali Najafzadeh 1
Massoumeh Falahpour 2

1 Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran(Corresponding Author): anajaf@birjand.ac.ir

2 Counseling and Guidance Expert, District 2 Education, Sanandaj, Iran: m.falahpour2024@gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.22034/farzv.2024.441339.1976
Abstract
The Safavid era marked a significant expansion of Shia culture in Iran, leading to the establishment of numerous rituals and ceremonies honoring the Imams. Among these, the birthday celebrations of the Imams have gained prominence in recent centuries, becoming an integral part of Shia customs and traditions. The holy shrine of Imam Reza in Mashhad serves as a focal point for many of these religious ceremonies, which are conducted with meticulous attention to detail and specific protocols. Some of these ceremonies trace their origins to initiatives undertaken during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras, highlighting the cultural, sociological, and historical significance of understanding their formation and the factors that influenced their development. This research focuses on the birthday celebration of Imam Reza in Mashhad, a pivotal religious observance for the Shia that has witnessed remarkable growth in the past two centuries. The primary research question seeks to identify the factors that transformed this birthday ceremony into a grand Shia celebration during the Qajar era and the subsequent Islamic Revolution. The findings of the research reveal that the Qajar dynasty, particularly through the initiatives of Naser al-Din Shah, Mozaffar al-Din Shah, and officials stationed in Mashhad, played a crucial role in the development of Imam Reza’s birthday celebration. During the Pahlavi era, administrative discipline, executive instructions, the creation of dedicated endowments, and media attention contributed to the expansion and widespread observance of the birthday celebration in Mashhad.

Keywords

Celebrations
the Birth of Imam Reza
Holy Shrine
Qajar
Mashhad
Subjects
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