The portfolio shows Mourners in Mud in a religious festival in a small city in the west of Iran, called Bijar. People take mud and put and rub to their head, face, shoulder and body to show their sorrow and mourning about killing Imam Hossein. After death of Prophet Mohammed in 10 June 632, his followers divided into two groups, Shia and Sunni. Shias believed that after the Prophet, there are 12 Imams (Holy Leader) that the next leaders would be them, firstly his cousin (Ali) and then Mohammed’s grandsons. While Sunnis believed that they must follow Mohammed’s traditions. After death of the Prophet Mohammed several wars happened between these two groups. Imam Hossein is the 3rd Shia Imam. In 1 October 680, Imam Hossein which is the second grandson of the Prophet, surrounded by his enemies in Karbala, Iraq. They did not allow Imam Hossein and his group to reach water for several days. They killed him, his supporters and his family in 10 October 680.
It is said that when people in Bijar city heard that Imam Hossein needs support, went to Karbala, but in the way they heard that he is killed. So they started to rub soil and mud to their head and face to show their deep sorrow. From that year on, people in Bijar hold Mud Festival in the murder anniversary of Imam Hossein, which is called Ashora. Ashora means 10th in Arabic, as the murder happened in the 10th day of Muharram Month in Hijri Lunar Calendar. They bring clay, make mud and rub to their body. This portfolio shows this kind of mourning in Bijar city. As Ashora calculated based on Hijri Lunar Calendar and it is 355 days, so each year this festival hold 10 days sooner according to Gregorian calendar. Green is the color of Prophet Mohammed. As Imam Hossein killed in a war and red is the color of blood, so red is the color of his flag. In Ashora, Shias wear black cloths as it is the color for being mourner.