Gil-Mali Ritual: The Ancient Mud-Covering Tradition During Ashura Mourning for Karbala Martyrs

Why Gil-Mali Attracts Global Attention

Images of people covered in mud during Ashura often appear in international media because the tradition is visually unique.

For people unfamiliar with Iranian religious customs, the ritual may seem unusual or surprising. However, within the community, it has a clear symbolic meaning.

Many cultures around the world have mourning traditions involving physical expressions of grief. Gil-mali belongs to this broader human practice of using symbolic actions to remember loss.

The ritual demonstrates how communities preserve history through ceremonies passed down across generations.

June 25, 2026 | 9:06 pm