Iranian ritual of daffodils donation to Imam Reza (AS)

Iranians have an annual ritual involving the donation of 8,000 daffodil bulbs to the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad.

The ritual, with a history going back at least to 50 years ago, has recently been inscribed on Iran’s national heritage list.

The donation ritual kicks off as the florists of Behbahan in southwestern Khuzestan Province donate their first harvest of daffodils to the holy shrine around late December and early June.

In the Persian culture and literature, the daffodil symbolizes the eye, usually the eye of the beloved. A daffodil’s inside recalls the pupil of the eye.  

Mashhad is Iran’s holiest and second-largest city which hosts the striking massive shrine complex of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam.

With dozens of five-star hotels and hostels, the metropolis embraces a variety of cultural and historical sites. It is also a good place to buy top hand-woven Persian rugs and carpets.

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