A look at Iranian traditional “Ma’reke”

Instead of listing all the performing characteristics of traditional Ma’reke show, we have tried to mention the main characteristics of this traditional Iranian performing art type and also introduce that part of the “Fotovat-naame Soltani” which is about Ma’reke.
My mother used to say “Mahleke” (to perish) instead of “Ma’reke”. I was a little child at that time and used to think she says that, wrongly. Years passed and it turned out I was wrong about it and that she didn’t like my father’s job. She thought that “Ma’reke Giri” (the act of performing Ma’reke) is beneath one’s dignity and was ashamed of her husband being “Ma’reke Gir” (someone who’s job is Ma’reke Giri). On the other side, my father loved his job and “Ma’reke” was his cause. To find the truth, one day I decided to experience the father’s game. People were gathering around dad and his game court was a circle as vast as the world. He was at the middle of crowd, at the center of the circle. He was not a father, anymore. He was a “Morshed” (Master) and the people around him, an Enthusiast crowd who looked forward for the Morshed to show them whatever could be shown and to tell them whatever could be said and to lead them by his performance.
First, he put the Book and some big rocks in the circle. Before touching the rocks he mentioned pioneers. Then touching the big rock, he mentioned the God’s name by saying “Besmellah” (In The Name Of Allah) and asked the crowd to help him picking up the big rock by saying “Ya Ali”, in a loud voice.
Picking up the heavy rock and putting it on his strong shoulders, while beads of sweat on his forehead, he said “Ya Hagh”, took some steps in the circle and tossed the rocks. Then he asked people to send blessings on Prophet Mohammad and on his Family.
“Bache Morshed” (the Master’s Disciple and aide) taking order from “Morshed” (Master) brought something like an ax. Morshed asked the people around him whether someone can break the rock with one move. Some tried but no one could, but Morshed did it and broke the rock in two parts. Surprised from seeing such a thing, the crowd sends blessings on Prophet and on his Family. I went closer to see him better and to understand better the purpose behind his actions. He was under spotlight of crowd’s attention. Two young men among the crowd began to fight. They were struggling for a more adequate place for watching the show. Morshed took the hat of one of them and threw it out of the circle. The expression “your hat is out of the Ma’reke” means “you have lost”. The fight ended and the crowd became quiet.
Then, “Bache Morshed” brought a piece of material and placed at the middle of the circle. Morshed asked for a rival to wrestle with. People looked at each other. Whether there was a brave one who dares to wrestle with Morshed?
The circle is waiting another Pahlevan (champion). A man among the crowd cries “I wrestle with you”. A tall man comes into the Morshed territory. All the people are waiting for the end; for the result. The wrestling begins. After minutes of breathless struggle, Morshed wins. Then, he stands up, takes the hand of the looser, picks him up and puts him on his shoulder and the crowd prays for Morshed and wishes him a healthy life. They say Allah-o-Akbar in loud voices.
Within every section of the show (picking up the heavy rock, breaking the rock, wrestling) “Morshed” talked about Imam Ali and his Family, chivalry, humanity, justice, bravery and generosity. It was all about human values and truth.
“Bache morshed” with a little bowl in his hand, walked through the crowd and gathered the money. Meanwhile, Morshed prayed for the people and thanked them for the money. I tossed my agate ring to the bowl as a signal for my father, to tell him that I was present at the show.
The performance ended and the crowd scattered.
My mother has always inhibited me from going to father’s Ma’reke, and finally I had gone. It was a great experience but yet I had some questions in mind.
Seeing the ring, father understood that I have been at the show. He was overwhelmed with joy and decided to tell me more about the Ma’reke and its philosophy.
I asked my “Morshed Father” about the circle shape of the scene.
“Here, being within a circle means that we are within God’s love and ofcourse at the center of it” he answered.
“Why do you put the Book in the scene?” I asked.
“Because whatever I say, there is a proof for it, in the Book” father said.
“What’s thee paraphrase of breaking the rock?” I said.
“It means that we should fight the ruthlessness within our soul” Morshed explained.
“What the wrestling stands for? To show the body strength?” I asked.
He smiled and went on to say that “the wrestling was actually the fight between virtue and immorality. Always there has been the fight between monotheism and polytheism, between generosities and grudge, between certainty and doubt, and between modesty and vanity. We ask God to help us in the fight.”
I asked “why do you pick up the looser after the wrestling?”
“To say that, we should not insult the looser.” Father answered.
“Why do you beg the people by sending the “Bache Morshed” to hold the money bowl in front of them and ask them for merci?” I asked him.
“Supposedly I’m taking money in exchange for what I’ve done; performing for them and making them happy, but in fact, I’m begging something more important than their money; I’m begging for their love and kindness.” Morshed elaborated.
It was then that I came to the point that “Ma’reke” was not a folk street show for average people, only to gather the people and entertain them, but a deliberately planned performance, full of humanitarian concepts. My father was organizer of such a rich performance.
1)    “Af’i-e Talayi (Golden Python)” by Ali Nasiriyan, 1956, and “Ma’reke dar Ma’reke (Ma’reke in Ma’reke)”, by Davoud Mirbagheri, 1993, are the two plays that are written in the form of Ma’reke.