The salve of rituals on the body of Bushehr tourism
One of the main cornerstones of sustainable development in the world is the tourism industry. On the one hand, this industry relies on domestic capabilities to provide its infrastructure, and on the other hand, it can be introduced as one of the greenest businesses.
The national development strategists in different countries of the world have taken the route of directing capital and making money towards the business related to tourism, and the entry of a huge amount of capital into this field in developing countries shows the bright future of these countries in the coming years.
Although the country of Iran, due to its many natural, cultural and historical attractions, is a land that is prone to tourism development, but incorrect domestic policies as well as foreign propaganda have caused many inefficiencies in the activity of this area.
In this case, people-oriented activities are a window to overcome these conditions. One of the most important activities in the field of tourism is ritual and religious ceremonies. Bushehr, as one of the creative cities in holding ritual and religious ceremonies, has a great potential to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
In the past years, we have also witnessed small pulses beating in ceremonies such as the mourning days of Tasua and Ashura, holding cultural and artistic festivals and attracting the audience of local music in Bushehr, but there is a long way to reach the stability of this pulse.
In an interview with Hossein Mozafari, a researcher and university lecturer in the field of tourism, ISNA reporter analyzed the potential of ritual and religious tourism in Bushehr.
Where is the border between cultural tourism and ritual tourism? What are their similarities and differences?
Tourism is the totality of phenomena and relationships resulting from the interaction of tourists, business suppliers, governments and host communities in the process of attracting tourists and hosting them. The development of the tourism industry has led to the expansion and diversification of tourism. Today, according to the different motivations of tourists and the supply and demand of tourism, certain types of tourism have emerged, one of which is cultural tourism. Cultural tourism has continuously diversified and expanded in recent years and has become a popular and attractive sector.
Cultural tourism is related to the culture and art of a country or region. According to Chapo (2012), cultural tourism is a tourism product in which tourists’ motivation is to learn about new culture, participate in cultural events and visit cultural attractions. Cultural tourism can include cultural and diverse tourist experiences such as visiting festivals, cultural and artistic events, historical monuments, museums, handmade heritage, religious rituals and participating in educational trips with a cultural approach.
Ritual tourism is a special type of cultural tourism that introduces a person to the beliefs and beliefs of a society. Ritual tourism is the result of connecting travel with culture. A journey through which a person succeeds in discovering the beliefs and beliefs that flow in the soul of a human society and are rooted in the ancient culture of every border and region. Humans have always expressed the mental concepts hidden in them in an allegorical and symbolic way and in the form of specific actions called “rituals” in order to get their beliefs recognized. Rituals play an important role in retelling the cultural components of societies and cultural groups and are considered one of the most important tourist attractions of ancient civilizations such as Iran. Ritual landscape as a valuable tourism opportunity in a society can be noticed by local communities and tourists.
What are the key ceremonies in Bushehr’s range of indigenous rituals?
Rituals are very diverse in Bushehr province; Rituals from Sur to Sog and from Bazam to Razm exist in this geographical and cultural area and each has its own special place. For example, in the field of joyous rituals, we can refer to Hanabandan, Yazleh, Sarvar Khani, Khayam Khani, and Grigsho, and in the field of religious mourning rituals, we can mention the ritual of Zikr and Pamanbari, Sanj and Damam, Sinezani, Bar Haidari, Alamgandari, Sobhdham, Tazieh Khani, Sham Ghariban, funeral mourning for women, and other rituals such as bread-wearing, Dem-Dam Sahari, Eid Tarkhu, rain seeking, pilgrimage, Saroj Kobi, Hayat Haji and many other rituals that continue to exist in this country.
Can religious rituals be called a cultural ecosystem independently or should it only be examined along with other cultural elements of Bushehr?
Religious rites, both in holidays and in mourning, especially in the months of Muharram and Safar, and mostly in the mourning rites related to the martyrdom of Aba Abdullah al-Hussein (AS), have deep roots in the heart of Iranian culture and history from the mythological era until now. Culture and religion are two inseparable friends because it is the link between these two people. Culture originates from customs, methods, actions and rituals. From the time when he knew himself, man began to embrace religion in order to control his surroundings, and he knew himself through these beliefs for a long time. In every civilized society, the culture can be identified with the ritual and the ritual with the culture of that society based on the deep knowledge of the people of that region and it is impossible to separate them from each other. This is also the case in Bushehr culture. You cannot understand the religious mourning ritual of Sanj and Damam apart from the diverse cultural and anthropological elements of Bushehr, because you can clearly see the deep roots of behavior and sociology in this ritual.
What is the potential of religious rituals in Bushehr province to attract Iranian and foreign tourists?
Considering the diversity and plurality of religious rituals in Bushehr port, specifically, the religious mourning rituals in the months of Muharram and Safar and the high and effective capacity of accepting tourists in the human fabric of this geography, the reception of domestic and foreign guests and tourists is done in an exciting way. At the first encounter with most of these rituals, tourists are mesmerized by the magnetism and the high amount of energy that prevails in the atmosphere of these rituals, and it is difficult for them not to feel and forget the received energy after days and nights have passed. I have seen many tourists who After seeing, hearing and experiencing these rituals, they told me: I wish we lived in Bushehr and were exposed to these cultures, subcultures and behaviors because of the altruism of the people of this country.
What is the difference between these rituals in Bushehr and other regions of the country? What will Bushehr’s tourism industry bring to tourists?
My experience in relation to my guests or tourists who choose to see the rituals of Bandar Bushehr is only one thing; Deep connection. The vast majority of them consider the difference between Bushehr and other cities that they have visited and experienced in relation to the people of this port, the relationships that, for example: after a visit to Naji Cafe to eat ice cream in the heaven of beetroot juice or a simple samosa with sauce The hot pepper next to the Iranjovan Club can make them fall in love with a city like the characters in Ehsan Abdipour’s podcasts, which, according to him, has no special streets, no special statues, and no… and the tourism industry; Bushehr has a very long way to reach the tourism industry, Bushehr with many and in some cases unique capacities in the field of cultural and natural tourism is the beginning of the rocky road of the tourism industry because the basic infrastructure problems and problems in this city, not only in this city, Rather, it exists in the big cities of the country and it is necessary to step into this industry with a well-planned and calculated plan, because the country’s fossil resources such as oil and gas are very limited, and the future generations should be thought of as well, and one of the best ways to earn currency to turn the country’s economy. Replacing the white and valuable tourism industry is the oil, gas and even nuclear industry.
Is religious tourism dynamic in Bushehr? What suggestions do you have for its further activity?
In the last few years, teenagers and young people, along with the elders of Bushehr port, have a very high interest in the rituals and customs of this ancient port, and it is a great thing to be happy that this segment of the society is open to welcoming the art of traditional music and various types of vocal arts left over from the ages of this art. Valuable go and go. From Khayam-khani to Shroh-khani and from half-chani to women’s walk-in mourning, they are all performed with a special passion in different neighborhoods of Bandar Bushehr, and each of them is one of the popular tourist attractions of this small but talented region.
Give successful examples of ritual tourism, the path taken and its direct and indirect benefits for the destination community.
Ritual tourism, unlike other types of tourism in the province and especially in Bushehr port, has been and is very popular, because it is still held spontaneously and popularly, the impact and influence of this type of tourism has many stakeholders, from the company that sells plane tickets to taxis. The hotel, restaurant and supermarket will benefit from it, and further to the deep human relationships that are formed during these trips and you will find one or more new friends.