Iranians celebrating birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi

Iranians have celebrated the birth anniversary of Imam Mahdi, the twelfth and last Shia Imam.

Imam Mahdi was born on the night of the 15th day of the eighth month of the Muslim calendar Sha’ban about 1,200 years ago.

That occasion fell on March 17, this year.

Each year, people in Iran marks the auspicious occasion, performing religious rituals, decorating the streets and distributing nazri (votive food).

Here are some photos showing how Iranians celebrated the occasion on Thursday.

SQ/MM