Managing and monitoring the implementation of details guarantees the emergence of a great movement and in case that even a trivial shortcoming in executing a detail occurs, the institute would not reach its final goal that is the welfare of pilgrims; but the ornament of the Razavi Holy Shrine all day long indicates the round-the-clock endeavor of servants and the staff of the Office of Pilgrims’ Welfare Affairs, who always try to fulfill their responsibilities sincerely in the best way.
Management of Office of Pilgrims’ Welfare Affairs is run by Hamid Habibipour. We made a conversation with him on occasion of the auspicious birthday anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.) to know more about his office.
Haven’t made you worried the huge crowd of pilgrims at the start of Karamat days that usually reaches its peak on birthday anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.)?
-Maybe yes in this sense that our responsibility intensifies but if we believe in the fact that pilgrims are guests of Imam Reza (A.S.) coming by his own invitation, then we feel relaxed as Imam Reza (A.S.) treats his guests and doubles our power for fulfilling our responsibility.
It seems that the number of pilgrims have increased since the beginning of the year. Why?
-With respect to the appointment of Hujjat al-Islam Raeisi and his special look to further attendances of pilgrims and facilitation of their arrival in the Razavi Holy Shrine and because of the measures taken for this purpose, people have shown more inclination to attend in the Holy Shrine. Of course, the population of devotees of the Household of the Apostle (S.A.W.) all around the world shows an increasing trend and this is in part because of the better pilgrimage situations that have been provided.
Last year in Karamat days, the Razavi Holy Shrine was filled with flowers. How is the flower ornament plan in the current year?
-This year the flower ornament has started particularly across the Razavi sacred premises since the beginning of Karamat ten-day celebrations and will reach its peak on the night and day of birthday anniversary of Imam Reza (A.S.).
How many flowers will be used for the Holy Shrine in the ornament of Karamat days?
-This year based on flower donations, about 300,000 cut flowers and shrubs costing about thirty billion Rials will ornament the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.) during Karamat days.
If I’m right, this number of flowers was used previously for flower ornament of one full year, right?
-Yes, of course; it should be noted that since last year that the Razavi Holy Shrine and Sacred Premises flower ornament team joined us, the number rise considerably and more interestingly, the totality of flowers applied in ornament is provided by flower donators and our workmates in the landscape and flower ornament section are only responsible for managing the ornament.
When will start Razavi Holy Shrine and Sacred Premises flower ornament team their work?
-As distinguished businessmen in Tehran flower industry, the group have collected the donated flower bunches and shrubs of flower wholesalers across the country and God willing, they will start their work in the Holy Shrine from the fifth day of Karamat ten-day celebration.
How will be the carpeting of courtyards of the Holy Shire in these days?
-Due to large crowd of pilgrims and with respect to the good experience of carpeting all courtyards, we started carpeting much sooner this year and more than100,000 sq.m. of courtyards is carpeted daily so that all the courtyards and halls of the Holy Shrine will have been carpeted by the night and day of birthday anniversary.
With respect to the new approach of Astan Quds Razavi toward facilitation of pilgrims’ attendance in Mashhad, what performances the office has made?
-Based on the special look of the grand Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi to this issue, 5000 warm lunch meals are distributed daily during Karamat days for pilgrims in the free station at Bab al-Jawad (A.S.) by contribution of servants. Also 1500 warm dinner meals are cooked and distributed by servants of Astan Quds Razavi during these days in the deprived districts of the city.
Does Astan Quds Razavi have any program across the city in these days?
-To raise spiritual joy and rejoicing among pilgrims of the Holy Shrine, eight entertainment stations receive people with cookie and juice.
Sunday 22 December 2024
