Iran - From Inside You (Probably) Never Seen Before

Iran has appeared in numerous headlines around the world in recent months, usually attached to stories about military exercises and other saber-rattlings, economic sanctions, a suspected nuclear program, and varied political struggles. Iran is a country of more than 75 million people with a diverse history stretching back many thousands of years.

While over 90 percent of Iranians belong to the Shia branch of Islam, the official state religion, Iran is also home to nearly 300,000 Christians, and the largest community of Jews in the Middle East outside Israel. At a time when military and political images seem to dominate the news about Iran, it would be interesting to take a recent look inside the country, to see its people through the lenses of agency photographers.

Keep in mind that foreign media are still subject to Iranian restrictions on reporting.

Iranian grooms, Javad Jafari, left, and his brother, Mehdi, right, pose for photographs with their brides, Maryam Sadeghi, second left, and Zahra Abolghasemi, who wear their formal wedding dresses prior to their wedding in Ghalehsar village, about 220 mi (360 km) northeast of the capital Tehran, Iran, on July 15, 2011. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) 

Iranians Morteza Alavi and Mehdi Hagh Badri fly with a tandem paraglider over northwestern Tehran, on May 20, 2011. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)  

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Day Of Ashura - The 10th Day Of Muharram

Ashura, meaning tenth in Arabic. Ashura is a religious observance marked every year by Muslims, on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year. Ashura is an ancient observance that is now recognized for different reasons and in different ways among Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims. Below is a little explanation on Sunni and Shi'a.

Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam. Sunni Muslims are referred to in Arabic as ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah wa āl-Ǧamāʿah (Arabic: أهل السنة والجماعة‎, "people of the tradition [of Muhammad] and the community") or ʾAhl ūs-Sunnah (Arabic: أهل السنة‎) for short; in English, they are known as Sunni Muslims, Sunnis or Sunnites. 

Shia Islam (Arabic: شيعة‎, Shīʿah) is the second largest denomination of Islam. The followers of Shia Islam are called Shi'ites or Shias. "Shia" is the short form of the historic phrase Shīʻatu ʻAlī (شيعة علي), meaning "followers of Ali", "faction of Ali", or "party of Ali".

Ashura Day Celebration For Sunni Islam

During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, local Jews observed a day of fasting at this time, their Day of Atonement. The Prophet Muhammad learned of this tradition, and stated that the Muslims should also fast. He himself fasted for 2 days, and recommended that others do so as well. This fast is not required, simply recommended.

Ashura Day Celebration For Shi'a Islam

In the year 680 A.D., an event happened that was a turning point for what was to become the Shi'a Muslim 

community. Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was brutally murdered during a battle against the ruling Caliph, on the 10th day of Muharram (Ashura). This took place in Karbala (modern-day Iraq), which is now an important pilgrimage site for Shi'a Muslims.

Shi'a Muslims observe the day in mourning for Hussein and in remembrance of his martyrdom. Reenactments and plays are performed, attempting to relive the tragedy and keep the lessons of this event alive. Some Shi'a Muslims beat and flog themselves in parades on this day, to express their grief and to reenact the pain that Hussein suffered.

Collection of images of very devout Shi'a cut and whip themselves into a bloody froth in observance. Here are photos of Ashura from Pakistan, Afghanistan and India.

I might not really understand the important of why these people self cutting and whipping their body into bloody bath but, I really cannot find any different with Thaipusam where people also piecing themself in the sense of devotion. I'll do more research...

WARNING: GRAPHIC DISTURBING IMAGE

(Reuters / Babu)

(AP / K.M. Chaudary)

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Eid al-Adha 2011 Around The World

The Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam and one of the largest religious pilgrimages in the world, is currently taking place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Starting last Friday and continuing through Wednesday, some 3 million Muslims from around the globe are participating in several rituals, including the Tawaf, the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the enormous cube-shaped building in the center of the Masjid al-Haram mosque. 

The pilgrims are are also taking part in the Sa'i, traveling back and forth between the mountains of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, and Ramy al-Jamarat, in which they throw pebbles at three walls in the city of Mina to show their defiance of the Devil. Directly after the Hajj, Muslims all over the world will observe Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice. The feast honors Abraham who, according to Muslim tradition, was prepared to sacrifice his son Ishmael before God sent a ram in his place. To commemorate this event, worshippers sacrifice sheep, cows, and camels, and share the meat among family, neighbors, and the needy. 

Collected here are scenes of this year's Hajj and Eid al-Adha, from Mecca and around the globe.

Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims move around the Kaaba, seen at center, inside the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on November 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) 

A Muslim pilgrim prays as visits the Hiraa cave, at the top of Noor Mountain on the outskirts of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on November 2, 2011. According to tradition, Islam's Prophet Mohammed received his first message to preach Islam while he was praying in the cave. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) 

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Mobile World In 60 Seconds

To say that things move quickly in the mobile space is putting it rather mildly, but an infographic from mobile ad exchange Mobclix aims to highlight what goes down every 60 seconds.

Source from Tech Crunch

Scrum Lady - Women's Rugby League

These women look tough and definitely serious in playing rugby. Don't mess with these ladies...

Women's Rugby League is the female-only version of the game rugby league football. There are currently clubs for female only participation running in Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand which are overseen by the various individual organizations of those separate countries and internationally by the Women's & Girls Rugby League.

At International level Australia, France, Great Britain and New Zealand compete on a regular basis with a Women's Rugby League World Cup held at a regular interval after first being established in 2000.

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Daylight Saving Time (DST) For Dummies

A brief history and explanation of the annual madness that is daylight saving time. It seems like an awful lot of hassle twice a year for a tiny payoff.

Source from Geek Are Sexy