Ashura Ceremony

Tehran, Iran: Blood of a sacrificed lamb flushes out of its throat on the asphalt, while held by men trying to keep the animal still, outside a mosque, in south Tehran, on The Day of Ashura in south Tehran. Ashura Day is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram, in south Tehran. The day is commemorated by the Shi�a as a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala on 10 Muharram in the year 61 AH. This day is of particular significance to Shi'a Muslims, who consider Hussein (the grandson of the Prophet) Ahl al-Bayt the third Imam and the rightful successor of Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believe that Moses fasted on that day to express gratitude to God for liberation of Israelites from Egypt. (Photo by Kaveh Kazemi/Getty Images)