Nakhl gardani or nakhl bardâri

The solemnity of the funeral ceremonies of the people of the region of the badgirs[1] in the laments of the day of ÂShura, is manifested in the custom of nakhlbardâri.

In the city of Yazd, they take the palm as a coffin of the Imams or as a symbol of one of the martyrs of Karbala. The palm is made of wood and looks like a tree or cypress leaf. This unique ceremony takes place accompanied by a general invitation from the inhabitants of the neighborhood and villages, and foresees their collaboration in all phases of the ceremony, from financial aid, to the supply of wood and all other tools, up to help in decorations, in the preparation and transport of the wood on the day of ÂShura. Some people a Yazd and nearby, they donate their trees so that when they get old, their branches can be used for the restoration of the palm. Large palms, after being decorated, weigh a few tons and usually need many people to lift and move them. In some cases, even the Zoroastrians of Yazd collaborate in preparing the palms. They consider Imam Hossein, the Lord of martyrs, the husband of an Iranian princess and have a particular reverence for him. The custom of nakhgardâni it also takes place in other cities of Iran such as Kâshân, Esfahân, etc. There is also a similar ceremony named "tugh gardâni" or "tugh calls"Held in the cities of Kâshân, Shâhrud, Khorram Âbâd and other cities. The tugh it is a steel point with a high ribbon that, on the small iron box of the sepulchral chapel covered with black, green and other colors sa'dât,[2]it stands on a wooden-metal pedestal. THE tugh are the symbol of the banner of the Karbala episode of Abul-Fazl Al Abbâs[3]. In the city of Shahrud, if during the transport of the tugh involuntarily falls to the ground its tip, immediately sacrifice a lamb just in that place, otherwise they are convinced that something unpleasant will happen to those carrying the tugh. This ritual also in Kâshân and in the adjacent cities like Natanz, Ârân, Bidgel and Ardestân is among the customs observed by the inhabitants of this province. The period of tugh gardani in Kâshân it usually concerns the night and the day of Ashura and the sixteenth day of the Moharram.

[1]In architecture, wind towers are a "natural" solution to the problem of air conditioning in hot climates. They work by removing hot air from inside the building during the day, and letting in fresh air from outside during the night. To work they use the energy of the wind and the sun. 

[2]Descendants of the family of the Prophet of Islam

[3]Brother of Imam Hossein, in the battle of Karbala he was appointed commander in chief and standard-bearer of the forces of Hossein.