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Hosseiniehs are among the salient urban and architectural
features of Yazd and its surrounding townships, and bear
cultural, social, political and historical significance.
Hosseinieh is a walled compound, square or rectangular,
which is usually built in the center of each neighborhood
and has platforms at the ground level and booths at the
upper levels.
Hosseiniehs
are religious places dedicated to the memory of the
martyrdom of the Third Holy Shiite Imam, Imam Hossein. In
Muharram and Safar mourning months, men usually occupy the
platforms, while women sit in the booths on the upper
level.
In the middle of most hosseiniehs, there are small towers,
in the shape of an eight-sided prism, called ‘Kalak’.
As tall as an ordinary human being, Kalaks were used in
the past (when there was no electricity) like a big lamp
to light up the place during mourning vigils.
During the other months of the years, Hosseiniehs are
multi-purpose urban open spaces utilized by the residents
in each neighborhood.
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