The History of Nakhl Bardari Rite

What is Nakhl?

Nakhl, in the word means palm tree, which in ancient Persian was called “the tree of life” for the sake of its resistance, beauty and blessing. Nakhl is a symbol of coffin of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Imam of the Shia branch of Muslims who was killed in a battle about thousand years ago and his holy corpse was on the ground for three days and then was buried by some Nomad tribe. He didn’t have any coffin or funeral ceremony at the time of martyrdom. Now the Shia Muslims, for commemorating their holy Imam, hold this rite every year on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram (the first month of Arabic calendar), which is one of the religious manifestations of Yazd.

The appearance of the Nakhl and its signification

There are some opinions about the genesis and symbolization of Nakhl. Some of which are:

• The history of the appearance of the Nakhl dates back to pre-Islamic time and the Sassanid era when a great coffin was being prepared for Khosrow Parviz (The Sassanid King) out of palm trees.

• Nakhl has taken its name as it was made of palm trees.

• One quotation says that the tent of Moses the prophet was built out of a palm tree.

• Since the coffin was made out of palm tree for the first time, the name remained and people call it “Nakhl”.

• Nakhl is the symbol of the tents in which Imam Hussein and his family lived in Karbala (where the battle happened between Imam Hussein and his rivals).

• Another quotation says Nakhl ceremony was one of the Indian religious rituals that entered the Shiite ceremonies.

• Another saying suggests Nakhl Bardari is a ritual related to Siavash's funeral ceremony which was done in old Persia and is mentioned in many literary books that has come to the Shi'a tradition. Siavash was a purified and handsome prince in Ferdowsi’s epic which is a symbol of purification for Iranians. 

Nakhl is a wooden and gigantic structure that symbolizes the coffin of Imam Hussein (PBUH). The largest and oldest Nakhl of the country are the ones located in Yazd province, especially in Taft, Mehriz, Zarch and Yazd. The Nakhl Bardari Rite is done in these areas in Muharram and is considered as one of the most magnificent and most charming ceremonies in Iran and the world. In fact, the Nakhl has become a symbol of mourning in Yazd.

These wooden structures are kept in front of the city's Hosseiniehs in the other months of the year until Muharram that they are decorated in green and black by local people.

The Nakhl Gardani or Nakhl Bardari, as well as the special mourning ceremony of Yazd as a national culture has been recorded in the list of spiritual heritage of the UNESCO Cultural Heritage Organization.

Historical city of Yazd, in the past, had two very large Nakhls, one of which was kept in Amir Chakhmaq Square and the other in the Shahid Beheshti Square. Every year people in Yazd used to start decoration and ornamentation the Nakhl from the fifth of Muharram. In the ninth day of Muharram, i.e. Tasu’a, the Nakhl is decorated in green, and in Ashura, it is ornamented in black. Nakhl is usually decorated with mirrors in one side of the Nakhl which is the symbol of light, simplicity and honesty of the people who perform the ceremony; and the other side is usually decorated with black or/and green fabric. In some areas, expensive fabrics such as Termeh and silk are used to decorate the Nakhl which shows the great respect of people toward Nakhl. Most of the things used in decorating the Nakhl are devoted by people who even devote some fruitful and fruitless trees for the Nakhl so that their wood can be used to repair the Nakhl or their fruit can be sold to make money for buying necessary things. The items used in decoration of Nakhl and the way the Nakhl is decorated is different from area to area. 

Nakhl Bardari in Yazd

Nakhl Bardari or Nakhl Gardani means carrying the Nakhl. In Yazd and surrounding towns and villages from the early afternoon of Ashura, the mourners go to the squares and fields in order to mourn and cooperate in Nakhl Bardari. The crowds fill the entire space of the fields and the surrounding roofs to watch Nakhl Bardari and mourn as well. 

First the mourners sing certain verses of mourning poems together while striking their chests, this is called Sinezani, harmoniously and then Some young and strong men go under the Nakhl and with the guide of an elderly who is standing on the Nakhl started lifting the Nakhl and carrying it in the pre-set route. They put a small pillow over their shoulders then they stick their shoulders to the wooden bars. Nakhl can weigh more than one ton. The number of the people who attend to carry the Nakhl depends on the size of the Nakhl. 

Then the leader of the young men under the Nakhl loudly announces the start time of the Nakhl Bardari. The young people also lift the huge Nakhl with the shout of “Ya Hussein" and carry it in the certain route. moves on the shoulders of the youth and turns, turns and turns for three times around the square and then is put at the corner. In addition to the men who are carrying the Nakhl over their hands, another group of men mourners run after the Nakhl mourning. In some areas, women mourners also follow the Nakhl and mourn. The point is that almost everyone is wearing black or other dark color as a symbol of mourning in Iran. In some neighborhoods and towns/ villages, mourners carry or/and follow the Nakhl bare-footed to show their respect to sacredness of the ceremony and the Nakhl.

An interesting tradition that has recently grown in some places is the creation of a small Nakhl for teens to move it in front of a large Nakhl and add to the magnificence of the Nakhl Bardari ceremony. Of course, this will also prepare them for going under the great Nakhl in the coming years and will be a good exercise for them. The black decoration of the Nakhl remains on the Nakhl till the end of Muharram. 

The time of Nakhl Bardari in Yazd

In Yazd province, the time of Nakhl Bardari is very important, and it varies in any village and neighborhood.

In Kooche Biuk Neighborhood, the ceremony is held in the morning of Ashura. in Kheyrabad, it is held one hour before the noon on Ashura, in Zarch it is held at noon, in Taft and Ashkezar the people hold the ceremony in the evening of Ashura. If you wish to attend Nakhl Bardari, contact us or ask a local for the exact time.

The most famous places in which Nakhl Bardari ceremony is held are Amir Chakhmaq Square in Yazd and Shah Vali Hosseinieh in Taft, which are of particular interest and popularity to the local people as well as Iranian and international travelers. Lots of people gather in these two places to watch and attend the ceremony. The IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) TV usually broadcasts the rite lively. 

To reserve a tour watching the ceremony, click here.