Fajr Decade

Ten-Day Dawn (Persian: دهه فجر) or Fajr Decade, in the literature of the Islamic Republic of Iran, refers to the days from February 1 to February 11, 1979, which covers the period from Imam Khomeini's arrival in Iran after fourteen years of exile until the fall of the Pahlavi regime and the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. These days have been named the "Ten-Day Dawn" since 1982 and are commemorated every year with various celebrations and programs throughout Iran.

Naming and Significance

In Iran, the interval between 1 and 11 February is known as the Ten-Day Dawn or the Ten-Day Dawn of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. This naming commemorates the days from 1 to 11 February, encompassing the return of Imam Khomeini to Iran after fourteen years of exile until the fall of the Pahlavi regime and the victory of the Islamic Revolution.

On the first anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, a ceremony titled "Week of Revolution Anniversary Celebrations" was held for seven days. From 1982, 'Abd al-Majid Ma'adikhah, inspired by the opening verses of Sura al-Fajr ("By the dawn, and the ten nights"), proposed increasing the duration of the ceremony to ten days, calculated from February 1 (Imam Khomeini's arrival in Iran) to February 11, 1979 (victory of the revolution). Although this interval seems to be 11 days, it was approved that the "Ten-Day Dawn" would be considered until the dawn of February 11, so that it totals ten days.

Ceremonies

Every year during the Ten-Day Dawn, various ceremonies and programs are held in Iran and some other countries to commemorate the victory of the Islamic Revolution. The first Ten-Day Dawn celebration in 1980 coincided with the fifteenth century of the Prophet's (s) migration to Medina and was held under the name "Ten-Day Celebrations" under the supervision of a special headquarters. In subsequent years, due to war conditions and costs, the duration of the ceremonies was reduced, but from 1982, with the establishment of the "Headquarters for Holding Ten-Day Dawn Ceremonies," celebrations were held from 1 to 11 February.

These ceremonies include rallies, artistic, cultural, and sports festivals, exhibitions, meetings, and the publication of cultural products. Festivals such as the Islamic Revolution Theater Festival, Fajr Music and Film Festival, and sports festivals are among the prominent programs of these days. On February 1, a special bell is rung in schools to mark Imam Khomeini's arrival in Iran, and on February 11, extensive rallies are held throughout Iran. Every year on the night of February 11, the people of Iran chant the slogan "Allahu Akbar" in memory of the Takbirs of February 1979.

Symbols

"Shah Raft" (The Shah Left) newspaper headline, a historical headline in the course of the victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran

In 1982, the Islamic Propagation Coordination Council proposed that the call of "Allahu Akbar" be chanted on the night of February 11 every year. During the Ten-Day Dawn, Iranian cities are decorated, and the February 11 ceremony is held as a national celebration with the participation of millions of people in cities and villages. Anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans such as "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" are features of these rallies. High-ranking government officials, including the president, participate in this ceremony, and images of it are broadcast live on television networks.

Among the famous symbols of these days are newspaper headlines such as "Imam Āmad" (The Imam Came) and "Shah Raft" (The Shah Left), as well as the image of Imam Khomeini disembarking from the Air France plane on 1 February, 1979.