Kotal is one of the most magnificent Ashura rituals. It is filled with secrets, symbols and signs.
In some sources, kotal is defined as an embellished horse. Accordingly, it could be argued that kotal is a horse, on which a child is mounted, moving in front of a mourning procession.
Here is the order in which Kotal ceremony is held: Firstly, while the mother is still pregnant, the parents make a vow to mount their child on a horse in this ceremony after it is born, in case that is a boy.
On the first or second Ashura after their son’s birth, the parents prepare a horse or mule so that the child gets on it after being dressed appropriately.
The horse is also decorated with colourful fabrics.
In front of the child, on the horse saddle, two similar fruits such as an orange and an apple with a knife into them are placed. A pigeon is also put on the saddle.
The parents also bring a jar of water with them.
While marching, maddahi* and manqabat-khani* are performed by a person for each kotal.
In times past, there were also one or two teenagers in green clothes, who accompanied each kotal while holding a stick in their hands.
Once the ceremony is finished, the owners of the kotal invite people to their home for Ashura meal.
Street processions in Nushabad annually gather about fifty kotals on the Day of Ashura.
Kotal is considered the symbol of Ali-Asghar (the youngest son of Imam Husayn).
However, this tradition may also be related to Iranian blessing practices, in which children play a central role.
Historical evidence suggests that this ceremony dates back to the Safavid period and maybe before that.
Descriptions of this ritual could be found in the reports of European travel writers who visited Iran during the Safavid era.
Mules, pigeons, fruits, mirrors, knives, children’s clothes, glass jars, mules’ covers, sticks and umbrellas are some of the items used in this ritual.
A number of these objects remind us of many blessing practices and rainmaking rituals of the past, in which children play a key part as innocent figures.
* types of religious eulogy recitation
