Journal of Iranian Social Studies

Abstract The present essay studies the theoretical distinctions of two concepts: that of pilgrimage and that of tour in three aspects of social act, close approximation with different life style and two phenomena of pilgrim and tourist as two discursive identities. The essay makes distinction based on the experiences of three generations of Shahid Beheshti University’s staff. As such it builds a framework and makes efforts to demonstrate experiential distinctions among three generations on pilgrimage-tour. The technique of the depth interview was used to collect data for this study; therefore 15 persons of the university’s staff belonging to three generations were interviewed. The results show a marked reduction in third generation respondents’ tendency to pilgrimage in comparison with second and first generations. Also the respondents subjectively make a conceptual distinction between pilgrimage and tour of sacred places in abroad. This distinction is less frequently seen among pilgrimage and tour inside the country.

Abstract The degree of satisfaction is of interest to the travel agencies as well as the travelers, as far as travel services are concerned. Preparing a successful trip requires that a given agency or person spends money and conducts careful planning. Thus to the service providers it is important to know what kind of output these efforts bring about for the users. Here, in order to investigate travel satisfaction, Meta-analysis was used. Meta-analysis, as a method, can measure the subject especially when the cases (research projects) are numerous. In this analysis, 70 research Projects (out of which 16 cases were finally chosen) were studied. The utilized statistics are standard means and weight means. In sociology of consumption, accepting a tourist as a customer – who pays money for touristic services – is a framework. The overall results indicated that satisfaction concerning health and food issues stand at the lowest and satisfaction concerning the co-travelers stands at the highest level.

Abstract This paper describes and analyzes cultural needs of foreign pilgrims of Imam Reza’s holy shrine in the city of Mashhad. We conducted a survey to measure cultural needs in 5 dimensions including emotion, belief, ritual, knowledge and consequence. A total of 1427 pilgrims (Azerbaijani, English, Urdu, and Arabic-speaking) were questioned for the survey. Results showed that knowledge need is at the top of the hierarchy of cultural needs and the second level is consequential need. But the emotional, religious and ritualistic needs are located in lower levels. The difference between the degrees of five needs is statistically significant. In addition there are significant differences between four groups of foreign pilgrims in the intensity of cultural needs.

Abstract The way to pass leisure time as a social phenomenon in the metropolitan city of Mashhad, the holy tomb of Imam Reza (AS) regarding its international sanctity and significance is among the issues that requires a specific attitude for strategy formulation and planning. This study aims to prioritize development strategies of passing leisure time in the Mashhad metropolitan city. The research method is both descriptive and analytical with a deductive nature derived from a systemic attitude. Data collection method is documentary-library and survey which 50 questionnaires (experts) have been used with Delphi method. The tool used in this study is that of SWOT technique. It has been figured out in this study that regarding the leisure time in the Mashhad metropolitan city, the overriding issue is strengths and weaknesses. The results obtained in this study indicate that Mashhad metropolitan city has been positioned on an aggressive basis which shows that Mashhad metropolitan city should use its own strengths and weaknesses to eliminate weaknesses and threats. Also, the strategy for improving infrastructure performance of current passing leisure time and creating physical and spiritual atmosphere appropriate for pilgrimage culture has been assigned the first priority among the aggressive strategies.

Abstract Pilgrimage is a social concept which has an association with sacred places and has long been of interest in different communities. Imam Reza's Holy Shrine is a sacred place which attracts millions of pilgrims every year. Due to the fact that there is a direct relationship and interaction between Mashhad pilgrims and inhabitants in this city, a spatial text of pilgrimage has been produced as a result of the pilgrimages in the destination. In the present article, spatial text of Imam Reza pilgrimage has been assessed on the basis of some dialecticians’ theories such as Henri Lefebvre’s. The ways that this spatial text can be produced, analyzed and characterized have been also evaluated; therefore, this study can be considered as a theoretical and analytical research of Imam Reza’s spatial text on a conceptual framework in accordance with Lefebvre’s model in which the existing binary oppositions and typology have been appraised. Based on these evaluations, some suggestions have been proposed apropos of Imam Reza’s spatial text and the obtained findings indicate that the spatial text of Imam Reza pilgrimage is a cultural text whose elements will provide religious awareness and recognition for both pilgrims and inhabitants. So, the effect of each element should be methodically assessed and prioritized when making decision about macro and micro elements of spatial text of Imam Reza pilgrimage.

Abstract Pilgrimage to shrines of the holy Imams is considered sacred by the Iranians. This leads millions to go on a pilgrimage annually to holy cities. Such journeys have recently become the subject of many research projects. Yet no researcher has conducted an investigation about “not going on a pilgrimage”. The main question of this research is “Why some of Mashhadies don’t go on pilgrimage to Atabat?” Here using Grounded Theory, I try to answer the question. Findings show that those who don’t travel to Atabat 1) encounter a barrier or 2) have no motive for it. Core category is first “lacking resources” and “no patience”: Lack of money, time, and companion; and intolerant of long way and great distance, jam of plans, undesirable lodging, food services, insecurity and the like. Core category of second is alternatively enjoyable activities and disaffection (inappetence), which consists mainly of recreational motive of journey, no preference to allocate money, to suffice to pilgrimage of Imam Ali Ridha, having no fervor for Imam Hussein ibn Ali pilgrimage, to see same of pilgrimage from far away and go on pilgrimage. This article proposes Research on this subject-matter about Mashhad and other holy cities in Iran.

Abstract Mashhad is the most important pilgrimage hub and religious travel destination in Iran and enjoys a privileged position in Shiite world. Considering the s status of spiritual travels in the world of tourism, the destination characteristics can play a significant role in deepening pilgrimage rituals and providing an appropriate condition for pilgrims' spiritual experience. This article analyzes socio-cultural dimensions of the pilgrimage city of Mashhad with the premise that it is a requirement for the host society to provide both software and hardware prerequisites for improving pilgrims experience. In the first step 8 factors and 42 indexes were identified and modified using affirmative factor analysis technique. The indexes were ranked in the process of fuzzy hierarchical comparison and each element and its indexes weight in sustainable religious tourism in Mashhad were determined. The findings showed that security and safety in the destination and the host community training have the most important factors.

Abstract This article presents a description and sociological analysis of the Iranian pilgrims' length of stay in Mashhad utilizing action and structural theories. It shows how situational and mental factors influence the independent variable both directly and indirectly. The data in need were acquired using the questionnaire administered with a sample of 1600 pilgrims chosen via cluster sampling method. The findings indicated that pilgrims' average length of stay in Mashhad was 5.5 days in summer, autumn and winter and 6 days in spring. In order to identify the influential factors of pilgrims stay duration, regression analysis was employed. It was found that: firstly, the longer the distance between Mashhad and the pilgrims' place of residence, the more acquainted are pilgrims with Mashhad and that the more often they have visited Mashhad, the longer they will stay in Mashhad. Moreover, village dwelling pilgrims stay in Mashhad more than those who live in cities and towns. Also the pilgrims who prefer to pay little for accommodation will stay longer than the others. Finally, two variables of family monthly income and total fellow travelers affect the stay duration negatively.

Abstract Pilgrimage is an intended travel to a shrine or a holy place. This religious phenomenon is two-dimensional: subjective and objective. The objective dimension of pilgrimage includes institutionalization and plausibility of pilgrimage. Institutionalization of pilgrimage is a result of repeated pilgrimage with observing specific rituals and ordinances. Plausibility of pilgrimage, however, is mostly concerned with religious narrations (Ahadith) about the rewards of pilgrimage, internalized through learning and education. The subjective dimension of pilgrimage involves pilgrim's awareness of the superiority of the holy person and humbleness before him. A phenomenological analysis of pilgrimage experiences of 6 female participants in Mashhad shows the following: first, the cluster of holiness, belief in intercession, rituals, infatuation, humbleness, supplication, prayer and tranquility is hidden in the pilgrimage's experience, implicating categories of superiority, ritual and supplication through resorting to a holy person. Secondly, the three categories of superiority, ritual and supplication through resorting to a holy person are shared by all pilgrims, indicating the inter subjectivity or social dimension of pilgrimage. However, the uniqueness of pilgrimage is mostly an outcome of the pilgrim's awareness of superiority, his/her supplication and observing the rituals.