More than Five Millions Mourners Attended the Mourning Ceremonies in the holy city of Mashhad

Thursday 30 March 2006, Mashhad,Iran
On the last day of the month of Safar thousands of religious mourning groups comprising millions of mourners from every nook and corner of Iran attended the mourning ceremonies in the holy city of Mashhad to commemorate martyrdom anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.), the eighth holy Imam of Shia Muslims in the world buried in the holy city of Mashhad, the second largest city in Iran.
The holy city of Mashhad, with three millions residents, is also considered as the most populated religious city in the world. Every year more than 25 millions pilgrims visit this holy city to perform the pilgrimage of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.).The premises of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.), famous, as "Astan Quds Razavi" is known as "The Glory of Islamic World". After the victory of Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979, the premises of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) have been expanded five fold and at present the grand premises of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) is also considered as the largest religious center in the world.
This year from the Twentieth Day of Safar "Arbayeen Husayni", the Fortieth Day after the martyrdom of Imam Husain (A.S.) till the last day of the month of Safar, the martyrdom anniversary day of Imam Reza (A.S.) more than five millions Iranians visited the holy city of Mashhad to participate in the mourning ceremonies which is held every year on grand scale during the last ten days of the month of Safar.
On the Thursday last day of the month of Safar corresponding with martyrdom anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.), the four avenues from four corners of the city leading to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) was completely covered with thousands of religious mourning groups comprising millions of mourners who came to Mashhad from every nook and corner of Iran. On these four avenues leading to the holy shrine, millions of mourners were served with food, tea and cold water by the public. Mourners were beating their chest and back with Zanjeer and reciting elegies in praise of Imam Reza (A.S.).Today millions of mourners entered the holy shrine and paid their homage and respect to Imam Reza (A.S.).The elite armed forces of Islamic Republic of Iran stationed in the military garrisons and air-force bases around the holy city of Mashhad also joined the mourners in well organized groups and performed Matam (chest beating) and visited the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) to pay their respect to the holy Imam (A.S.).
Special mourning ceremonies were also held in the Husainiyahs of the holy city. All the radio and TV channels of Iran carried special programs and live telecast from the holy shrine throughout the day to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Reza (A.S.). Last night special "Khutbah Recitation Ceremony" was conducted in the historical Inquilab Islami courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) attended by famous Ulama and leading personalities of Iran as well as hundred of thousand of pilgrims present in the holy shrine.
Imam Reza (A.S.), the eighth holy Imam of Shia Muslims in the world was martyred by poisoning by the Abbasid caliph Mamun, on the last day month of Safar 203 A.H./ 818 CE in Mashhad.