Shrine adorned with 300,000 votive flowers during Karamat Ten‑Day festivities

More than 300,000 votive flowers from across Iran have been used to decorate Imam Reza Shrine during the Karamat Ten‑Day festivities – the period between the birth anniversaries of Imam Reza and his sister Hazrat Masumeh – creating a vibrant and fragrant atmosphere for pilgrims.

A large‑scale floral decoration project is underway at Imam Reza Shrine, in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, during the Karamat Ten‑Day festivities, with more than 300,000 votive flowers used to adorn the shrine’s courtyards, porticoes and ceremonial spaces.
The flowers, donated by devotees from cities including Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Hamadan, Yazd, Kerman and Mashhad, were gathered and transported to the shrine city by refrigerated trucks to preserve their freshness. The initiative has turned various sections of the shrine into colorful displays coinciding with the birth anniversary celebrations of Imam Reza.
According to Amin Behnam, deputy for sacred places at Astan Qods Razavi (AQR): “The decoration program is one of the largest annual floral projects carried out at the shrine. More than 300,000 stems of flowers donated by devotees from different parts of the country have been used to decorate the courtyards and porticoes of Imam Reza Shrine”.
Behnam added: “Around 80 volunteers from the Shamim‑e Rezvan service group work around the clock in two flower‑arranging workshops located at Valiasr portico in Grand Prophet Courtyard and Bab al‑Salam area. These teams design floral crowns, garlands and arrangements used throughout the shrine complex”.
For the first time this year, a glass viewing showcase has been installed in front of Valiasr workshop, allowing pilgrims to watch the process of preparing and arranging flowers up close. The initiative aims to familiarize visitors with behind‑the‑scene service at the shrine and highlight the efforts of volunteers.
A special floral decoration has also been prepared around the sacred shrine itself. During the festivities, elaborate garlands encircle Imam Reza’s tomb while fresh flowers are placed in the four upper vases above the shrine. In two special stages of decoration, approximately 24,000 stems of flowers were used around the sacred enclosure.
The floral arrangements include roses, lilies, orchids, chrysanthemums, anthuriums and asters, selected to complement the shrine’s architecture and spiritual atmosphere.