Jameh Mosque Qazvin

Jameh Mosque Qazvin

The Jameh Mosque in Qazvin, west of Tehran, is a popular place to gather.

Reputedly constructed over a Zoroastrian fire temple, the historic Jameh Mosque has a blue dome and some striking interior relief calligraphy.

Qazvin is west of Tehran on the A01 highway.

There are trains and frequent buses making the two and a half hour journey to Qazvin from the capital.

© Will Yong

Iranian Music CDs

Guide to Tehran

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Qazvin Imamzadeh Hossein

Qazvin Imamzadeh Hossein

Known for its carpets, Qazvin is west of Tehran on the A01 highway.

The Imamzadeh Hossein shrine (below) is a shrine commemorating Hossein, a son of Imam Reza (765-818; the seventh descendant of the prophet Muhammad) and dates from the 16th century.

The shrine is known for its beautiful geometrical tiles and is set in a courtyard with a fountain.

There are trains and frequent buses making the two and a half hour journey to Qazvin from Tehran.

© Will Yong

Iranian Music CDs

Guide to Tehran

© Iranvisitor.com

Blood On The Tracks in Tehran

Blood On The Tracks

Slaughtering a sheep

To mark the purchase of a new Toyota Camry, this poor creature had its blood spilled in a private car park in Qazvin.

Having slit its throat with practiced ease the slaughterer dipped his hands in the blood and daubed all four of the car’s tyres while uttering blessings.

However gruesome this may seem, the death of this lamb was not in vain.

Meat from the animal was to be given to the local poor as part of the celebrations for the birthday of the 12th Shiite Imam – the Imam Mahdi, set to return to the world when he is most needed.

© Iranvisitor.com