The Zurkhaneh, the Iranian traditional sports club where heroes used to practice, was home to many heroes in olden times.
Exactly when the Zurkhaneh was first established is unknown, but it is believed to date back to the time of Rustam and Sohrab in Ferdwosi’s Shahnameh.
The short doors of the Zurkhaneh can still be seen on the street corners of the bazaar. The entrance door was short so the heroes had to bow their heads down to enter as a sign of respect to the other heroes.
An architectural style employing the finest Iranian arts was used in the construction of the older Zurkhanehs. The architecture gently touches the eyes of every passerby, with the dome-shaped ceilings and walls decorated with paintings of holy Imams (AS). Tehran’s bazaar used to begin every morning with the sound of the morshed, the person who plays tonbak (Iranian hand drum) in the Zurkhaneh for the heroes while they are doing their athletic exercises.
There are special rules for entering the Zurkhaneh. Newcomers and novices must enter the place first and older veterans enter afterwards. The beginners were greeted by the audience, while a single bell played by the morshed welcomed the veterans and announced the veteran heroes’ entrance to the audience.
In addition, the Zurkhaneh collected donations for needy people in a ceremony called “Golrizan” (casting flowers) in which gifts and donations were placed in flower bouquets and the donators always remained anonymous.
Heroes were trained in the Zurkhaneh, the place where tradition and sports mingled, the place where heroes Rustam, Purya-ye Vali, and Takhti trained.
People did not enter the Zurkhaneh without ablution, following the religious rituals, in the belief that the Zurkhaneh is a sacred place.
The heroes are reminders of modesty and humility.
The sound of the Zurkhaneh bell is now hardly ever heard, and few ears are familiar with its sound. It seems that the new districts of the city are too small for such places and sounds.
The idea of reviving the old tradition of sports in the Zurkhaneh is discussed here and there, but the old heroes of Tehran’s bazaar hardly ever visit the remaining Zurkhanehs.
Although the signs and symbols of the Zurkhaneh are gradually fading away in the capital, the nature of heroism still remains in the core of Iranian culture.
But will they really be revived again, and will the bell’s sound be heard once again?
RM/HG
End
MNA