Kheiriyeh or Kheirat is something that is given for the soul of a loved one or someone who has passed on.

My mother recently gave Kheiriyeh, for the passing her much missed father.

Here is a video of my mother passing out some of her delicious rice pudding. As people get the offering, they usually say "Roohesh shad" or "May their soul be joyous", and then they pray for their soul by reciting the fateh, which is the following prayer:

This is recited once:

All praise is due to God, the Lord of the Worlds.
The Beneficent, the Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
Keep us on the right path.
The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.

Immediately followed by this verse which is repeated three times:

Say: He, God, is One.
God is He on Whom all depend.
He begets not, nor is He begotten.
And none is like Him.

Translation taken from here and here

Sure, it can be a bit of a fuss to get around without a car. However, in Tehran, people are likely to pick you up and drop you off to where you need to go.

As you can see in this video, I wanted to get into a cab, but I didn’t find one going my way. So we just got into someone’s car. They just picked us up, and dropped us in the direction we wanted to go (since it was on their way)…

There are also plenty of people who drive around town, pick people up, and get paid to do it (with their own cars). Usually people will say, it is free "ghabel nadareh" or it is not worthy of you, and then you say, no really, how much can I pay. Then they will tell you how much. This happens all the time, no matter where you go shopping.

"how much?"

"ghabel nadareh" (it is not worthy of you)

"No thanks, really."

"400 Tomans please." 

Sure, it can be a bit of a fuss to get around without a car. However, in Tehran, people are likely to pick you up and drop you off to where you need to go.

As you can see in this video, I wanted to get into a cab, but I didn’t find one going my way. So we just got into someone’s car. They just picked us up, and dropped us in the direction we wanted to go (since it was on their way)…

There are also plenty of people who drive around town, pick people up, and get paid to do it (with their own cars). Usually people will say, it is free "ghabel nadareh" or it is not worthy of you, and then you say, no really, how much can I pay. Then they will tell you how much. This happens all the time, no matter where you go shopping.

"how much?"

"ghabel nadareh" (it is not worthy of you)

"No thanks, really."

"400 Tomans please." 

At least once a week, my grandmother will burn esfand (Peganum Harmala) for the family. The smoke smells really nice, acts as an antiseptic, and is also said to rid the effect of the evil eye. Rather than harming the person, any bad energy is said to be cleansed away.

It is also customary to burn esfand at weddings. Last night I went to a wedding, where this gentleman circled the esfand around my head before putting it into the fire.

At least once a week, my grandmother will burn esfand (Peganum Harmala) for the family. The smoke smells really nice, acts as an antiseptic, and is also said to rid the effect of the evil eye. Rather than harming the person, any bad energy is said to be cleansed away.

It is also customary to burn esfand at weddings. Last night I went to a wedding, where this gentleman circled the esfand around my head before putting it into the fire.

Hanging out in the coffee shops in Northern Tehran.

I started handing out my camera’s yesterday. Here are some of the girls I gave the cameras to.

Dialogue:
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Don’t be afraid of the camera!
[A friend comes in]
[everyone shakes hands]
Hey! How are you!

I’m great.

[more greetings]

That’s right, I’m getting bigger, see.

[girl on left touches his chest]
I was touching his chest and was looking at that man [passing by] straight in the eye!

girl on right:
She was touching this gentleman’s chest then the committee [the police] were passing by just outside!! See how it is.

girl on left:
I was looking at him straight in the eye!

[more joking and laughter]
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Ameh Akram is my mom’s aunt (my grandfather’s sister).

Dialogue

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[the US] was very fun…and if i wasn’t so old and if they were to ask me to go back [to the US] I would go.

I am afraid that if I go back something might happen to me…Or if they were to put me in a nursing home… I would rather sit in my own room here.

I saw my sister.  They put her in a nursing home.

It broke my heart.

I brought her in my house, even though my own leg was broken–she knows.

Yes, one or two years.

I brought her in my home and my own leg was broken.

________________________________________________________

Ameh Akram is my mom’s aunt (my grandfather’s sister).

Dialogue

________________________________________________________

[the US] was very fun…and if i wasn’t so old and if they were to ask me to go back [to the US] I would go.

I am afraid that if I go back something might happen to me…Or if they were to put me in a nursing home… I would rather sit in my own room here.

I saw my sister.  They put her in a nursing home.

It broke my heart.

I brought her in my house, even though my own leg was broken–she knows.

Yes, one or two years.

I brought her in my home and my own leg was broken.

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