Mashhad expects 10 million visitors during Noruz holidays

TEHRAN - Mashhad is expecting to host some ten million pilgrims and sightseers in the upcoming Noruz holidays.

Fatima Masoumeh shrine visited by sightseers from 82 countries

TEHRAN – Travelers from 82 countries paid visits to the holy shrine of Fatima Masoumeh (SA) during the first eleven months of the current Iranian calendar year, started in March 2022. Located in Qom, the shrine is where the sister of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Shia Imam, is laid to rest.

Iran set to drop visa requirements for 50 countries

TEHRAN –Iran is expected to waive visa requirements for tourists from about 50 countries as it aims to benefit from a rebound in global tourism.

Sanandaj to improve facilities for religious sites

TEHRAN—Kordestan seeks to improve tourism facilities for its religious sites that are scattered across Sanandaj, the provincial capital.

Iran to resume pilgrimage journeys to Syria

TEHRAN—Iran and Syria officials have recently discussed ways to resume pilgrimage journeys to Syria.

Christian worshippers celebrate Badarak ritual in northwest Iran

TEHRAN—A host of Christian pilgrims have come together at St. Thaddeus, northwest Iran, to observe their annual ritual of Badarak.

Arbaeen trek: no restriction on Iran-Iraq overland travels

TEHRAN - Iranian pilgrims planning to visit Iraq to observe Muharram mourning ceremonies can leave via land border crossings individually or in groups without any limitations, an official said.

Christian believers to make pilgrimage to St. Thaddeus

TEHRAN – Tens of Christian worshippers will come together at St. Thaddeus to observe an annual ritual and pilgrimage after two years of hiatus due to coronavirus restrictions.

715,000 foreign travelers visit Iran in spring

TEHRAN – Some 715,000 foreign travelers toured Iran during the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (started on March 21).

Rituals associated with anonymous martyrs made national heritage

TEHRAN – The collective rituals and cultural elements practiced to cherish anonymous martyrs has been named an intangible cultural heritage in Iran.

Tehran, Islamabad on track to expand religious tourism

Tehran – Iran and Pakistan have entered negotiations to enhance religious tourism.

Mashhad’s intl. air passenger traffic jumps 310% year on year

TEHRAN - The number of international passengers flying to Mashhad in Farvardin (March 21-April 20) soared 310 percent year on year to over 41,000, a local aviation official said on Saturday.

Tehran to host 1st tourism exhibit of Islamic world

TEHRAN – Tehran is getting ready to host the 1st edition of the Islamic World Tourism Exhibition (IWTE) aimed to turn the spotlight on lesser-known destinations from 15 countries.

Mashhad getting well-prepared to host pilgrims on Eid al-Fitr

TEHRAN – The holy city of Mashhad is getting well-prepared to host millions of pilgrims on Eid al-Fitr, a joyful holiday when Muslims celebrate 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting.

Half a million pilgrims visit Imam Reza shrine per day

TEHRAN – The holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam, hosts an average number of 500,000 pilgrims each day.

IranAir operates Mashhad-Damascus flights devoted to pilgrims

TEHRAN – On Sunday, Iran’s flag carrier IranAir began its new service dedicated to pilgrims visiting Syria from the holy city of Mashhad where the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) is located.

10m travelers, pilgrims estimated to visit Mashhad in Noruz

TEHRAN – Mashhad authorities have estimated up to ten million travelers and pilgrims will be arriving in the holy city, which is home to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS), during the two-week Noruz holidays.

Iran prepares to welcome Iraqi sightseers, pilgrims  

TEHRAN – Iran is getting prepared to welcome more Iraqi sightseers, pilgrims, and medical travelers.

Discover Ibn Babawayh cemetery in southern Tehran

TEHRAN – Ibn Babawayh is a vast historical cemetery located in Rey, southern Tehran, in which many Iranian figures have been laid to rest.

Over 80k Iranian pilgrims travel to Iraq to partake in Arbaeen procession

TEHRAN – Head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Alireza Rashidian has said more than 80,000 Iranian pilgrims have traveled to Iraq so far to partake in the huge annual Arbaeen procession.

Time to ‘fully develop’ tourism economy in Ilam province, Iranian president says

TEHRAN – Iranian President Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi has urged his administration to make extra efforts to fully develop the tourism-related economy in Ilam province.

Christian worshippers make pilgrimage to St. Thaddeus

TEHRAN – A limited number of Christian worshippers have assembled for observing their annual ritual and pilgrimage at St. Thaddeus in West Azarbaijan province.

Working group proposed to ease UNESCO registration for Bastam complex

TEHRAN – Semnan province is to form a working group to facilitate possible UNESCO registration of the historical complex of Bastam and Kharghan.

Iran’s art of miniature, pilgrimage to St. Thaddeus listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

TEHRAN – Iran’s art of miniature along with pilgrimage to the St. Thaddeus apostle monastery have been recognized by UNESCO for their cultural significance.

By Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

Chavoshi reciting; a long-lasting tradition in Shahroud

Chavoshi is a Shiite religious song for departing and welcoming pilgrims to places of pilgrimage. The ritual of Chavoshi reading for pilgrims to the cities of Karbala, Mashhad, Najaf, Mecca, and Medina has been common since the Safavid and Qajar periods and has received much attention in the recent century. In addition to Semnan province and particularly Shahroud county, Chavoshi reading is also common in other provinces such as Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Bushehr, and the northern provinces of Iran.

Research plan approved for Habakkuk mausoleum’s landscaping

TEHRAN – A research plan has been approved for expanding the structure and surrounding landscape of Prophet Habakkuk’s mausoleum, located in Hamedan province, west-central Iran.