An Analysis of the Media Dimensions of Religious Rituals (Case Study: The Arbaeen March)

The Arbaeen March is one of the world's religious rites, which is attended by millions of people every year. This research is in the field of media, religion and communication. Achieving the media dimensions of the Arbaeen March is one of the main objectives of this research. Using the method of basic theory and conducting interviews with experts, during the open, pivotal and selective coding process, the components have been extracted and presented. Research findings showed; The Arbaeen March has two types of communication, internal and external. The internal dimension mostly includes "traditional interpersonal communication" and the external dimension is related to those who receive the news and information of this march through various media related to "mass communication" and is divided into two categories: "formal communication" and " Informal communication"is divided. In the internal communication of the march, the "senders" and "receivers" of the message are the "participants", but in the external communication, there is a difference between the senders and the receivers of the message. Senders are divided into two categories. The first group are "reporters" and "official reporters" who take part in the march and are responsible for "informing" and "producing news" for the official media. The second category is "people's reporters" who post messages about themselves and the events around them on social media. Audiences have the characteristics of "ritual audiences" and its model is evaluated as "interactive". The "media win of the Arbaeen March" is considered a transnational and global media win, given its "transnational audience".