Documents expert of the Management of Documents and Media Affairs of Astan Quds Razavi, said, “The collection of remaining written documents from the administrative establishments of the Holy Shrine, with a focus on celebrations of the birthday anniversary of Imam Ali (A.S.) show the procedures to hold the ceremonies from the Safavid era onward in the Divine Court of Imam Reza (A.S.).”
“The oldest document in the archive, with the theme of the celebration of the blessed birthday anniversary of Imam Ali (A.S.) dates back to the late Safavid era, and the year 1124 AH/1712, therein banquets and feasts are mentioned” Kazem Jahangiri Kalateh said.
Stating that the way of serving, time, location and costs of holding these celebrations in the Illuminated Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) include cases where the documents are listed, he added, “Courtyards light work, salutation assembly, providing sherbet and sweets, and holding ceremonies on the Golden Porch (Naderi) are also mentioned in the documents.”
Jahangiri Kalateh, stressing that in the documents, some jobs titles associated with holding these celebrations are expressed, said, “During the ceremonies, orders by the grand custodian or deputy custodian, to the purser or doormen are issued for holding celebrations of birthday anniversary of Imam Ali (A.S.), which has been seen in the documents.”
“Two examples of the documents are ‘Astan Quds Grand Custodian’s order to the head doorman regarding carpeting the Naderi Golden Porch, and light work of the two new and old courts to hold the salutation ceremony on the occasion of the birthday anniversary of Imam Ali (A.S.) in 1297 AH/1879’ and ‘Costs to supply sherbet and sweets for celebration of the birthday anniversary of Imam Ali (A.S.) in the Holy Shrine in 1288AH/1871’” he added.
“In different historical periods, on various occasions such as religious fetes, and birthday anniversary of the Infallible Imams (A.S.), ceremonies and feasts were held in the Divine Court of Imam Reza (A.S.), among which the felicitous birthday anniversary of Hazrat Ali (A.S.) has always been of great importance” the documents expert asserted.
“A treasury of historical written documents is being held in the Management of Documents and Media Affairs archive of Astan Quds Razavi with the purpose of maintaining these valuable documents for future generations, and also for easier access of researchers, these documents are indexed and digitalized” he expressed.
It should be noted, the Document Center of Libraries, Museums and Documents Center of Astan Quds Razavi, is one of the richest and the most exquisite document centers in the country and it is located on the east side of Tabarsi U-turn of Razavi Holy Shrine, and in accordance with the organization’s regulations, is open to those interested in history and research.
