Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Introduction Pir Shaliar, also written Pir-e Shalyar, is one of the historical Iranian ceremonies which take place in the Kurdish region of Iran. Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions of Iran and music and dance are the two major elements in the Kurdish culture. Every year, there are different celebrations and music festivals performed in the mountain region of Hawraman (Uraman) which is a huge valley located in Kurdistan and Kermanshah provinces. Nowrooz (Nowruz) celebration or “Persian New Year", Palangan Daf Music Festival, and the Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar in Oraman Takht are the most famous Kurdish ceremonies which annually attract tourists from different countries. Location & history of Pir Shaliar Kurdish Dance and Music Festival of Pir Shaliar in Iranian Kurdistan is an old traditional ceremony that goes back to over 950 years ago. It is still alive in Oraman-e Takht village located in Uraman valley (UNESCO) which is 65 km (1.5 hours) from Marivan. Pir Shaliar's Festival Date It is held on two different dates; the 1st festival is held on the 40th day of winter and the 2nd is held on the 40th day of spring. The festival is celebrated for three consecutive days in each season. The winter festival shows the social participation of people in the ceremony. It symbolizes getting rid of material attachments and salvation. The spring festival, named Komsai, is known as the ceremony of breaking the holy stone. The celebration is accompanied by more Daf drumming and ritual dances. People chip a small piece from a large stone at Pir Shaliar’s tomb. They believe the chip can heal the ill and it will
Kurdish Festival of Pir Shaliar Introduction Pir Shaliar, also written Pir-e Shalyar, is one of the historical Iranian ceremonies which take place in the Kurdish region of Iran. Iranian Kurdistan is one of the most active provinces with a lot of activities. The instruments of Daf and Tanbor (Tanbur) were born in the Kurdish regions
Iran Rose Water Festival in Kashan Kashan, located on Iran Classic Route, is one of Iran's five major tourist destinations. It is not only home to invaluable historical and cultural attractions, including Tangible and Intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage, but also festivals and activities. Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a popular and famous festival celebrated annually in May in Iran. Being made from the Damask rose (also called Mohammadi rose in Iran), rose water is an aromatic tonic liquid. The cultivation of Mohammadi roses in Iran dates back to around 7,000 years ago; however, the rose water festivals have been feasted since 1,000 years ago. The early rose water was made by rose distillation, but over the years, this procedure continued with the distillation of Damask roses (Mohammadi roses) as well. Although the ancient method of rose water making has changed over time, it has still retained its originality. There were no varieties of methods in the past, but new fashions have been generated for rosewater making due to the current technological developments. It is worth mentioning that special equipment (congruous to the regional climate), used in the traditional method, is still applied by those who prefer to make rose water in the old manner. festival in Iran. Qamsar, located 30 km south of Kashan, is another city well-known for the rosewater festival. Although the name Golab (Rosewater) is more closely tied to Qamsar, other cities in the Kashan district, such as Niyasar, are also professional in this field. It should be mentioned that not only Iranian people come to visit this festival, but also people from all over the world are interested in it. So, Kashan is a host to many tourists every year for the Rosewater festival. This experience is unique since it is a festival full of
Iran Rose Water Festival in Kashan Kashan, located on Iran Classic Route, is one of Iran’s five major tourist destinations. It is not only home to invaluable historical and cultural attractions, including Tangible and Intangible UNESCO Cultural Heritage, but also festivals and activities. Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a popular and famous festival celebrated
Sizdah Be-dar Day Sizdah Be-dar is the thirteenth day of Farvardin (the first month of the Iranian calendar) and is one of the New Year’s festivals. In Iran’s official calendar, this day is designated as Nature Day and is a holiday. Some people believe that Sizdah Be-dar day has an ominous feel about it, so they prefer to leave their houses that day to spend time outdoors in natural surroundings. However, there is no historical and credible narrative to prove that the ancient Iranians had this view. After twelve days of celebration, Ancient Iranians would, on the thirteenth day of Nowruz, considered an auspicious day, go outside to appreciate nature and rejoice. By celebrating this day, they ended the Nowruz period. Sizdah Be-dar Traditions People prepare everything for Sizdah Be-dar a day before. For Aush Reshteh, all beans and grains get cooked the night before. In some parts of Iran, people believe that food must be cooked with wild herbs on this day. For example, one of the Sizdar Be-dar rituals in Khorasan province is cooking a kind of Aush with wild native herbs. Samanu or halva should also have been on the table on Sizdah Be-dar. Kabab is the other popular food that can be seen on almost every occasion and Sizdah Be-dar is no exception. Before lunch, we eat lettuce with Sekanjabin, (the oldest Iranian drink which is made of honey and vinegar). Usually, nuts are eaten in the afternoon. Playing in a group is the other delightful part of this day. Playing with the family brings joy and vitality, which is an important part of this day's program. Some examples of these games are pantomime, kabaddi, dodgeball, kite flying, snakes and ladders, and football.Knotting the greenery is another tradition of this day. It is common for
Sizdah Be-dar Day Sizdah Be-dar is the thirteenth day of Farvardin (the first month of the Iranian calendar) and is one of the New Year’s festivals. In Iran’s official calendar, this day is designated as Nature Day and is a holiday. Some people believe that Sizdah Be-dar day has an ominous feel about it,
Muharram in Iran The month of Muharram is important in the Hijri Calendar (Islamic calendar) and a significant one in the Iranian culture. This is a month full of key historical events, especially the 9th –Tasu’a- and the 10th –Ashura- are acknowledged yearly by many people in the world. These two days hold many memories for Iranians throughout their life. So, Muharram in Iran is annually commemorated by Iranians. As a constant for many years, they have developed a lot of traditions, customs, and ceremonies from it in various forms. History of Tasu’a and Ashura Imam Husain (the 3rd imam of Shia Muslims) was the second son of Imam Ali (the first imam of Shia Muslims) who due to the opposition to the Hasan–Muawiya treaty conflicted with Yazid (the son of Muawiya). During his travel to Kufa (a city near Mecca) he and most of his family died in battle due to him not pledging alliance to Yazid. Husain's suffering and death became a symbol of sacrifice in the struggle for right against wrong, and justice and truth against injustice and falsehood in Shi’a history, and as a result, the days of his and his family’s deaths are mourned every year by Shi’a’s around the world, especially in Iran. Muharram, Tasu’a and Ashura in Iran This is a time that most Tekyehs (sometimes they are called Heiats, Hosseiniye, Zeinabiye, etc.) start working in Iran, these are places for people of religion to gather in, socialize, mourn or celebrate events and do charity work for the local community. They are managed privately by the people and every neighborhood has one for itself (except some big ones in large cities like Tehran that have branches throughout the city), they are busy with the preparation the days before the start of the month.
Muharram in Iran The month of Muharram is important in the Hijri Calendar (Islamic calendar) and a significant one in the Iranian culture. This is a month full of key historical events, especially the 9th –Tasu’a- and the 10th –Ashura- are acknowledged yearly by many people in the world. These two days hold many memories
Yalda Night Yalda is the traditional Iranian celebration of the winter solstice – the longest night of the year. Observed widely throughout Iran’s history stretching back into pre-Zoroastrian times, Yalda Night evolved into a treasured festival bringing the family together and continues to be practiced by Iranians around the world. The ritual symbolizes the rebirth of light following the darkest night, and mythologically speaking, represents a critical moment in the eternal battle of Ahuramazada (light/ virtue/ existence) over Ahriman (dark/ evil/ nonexistence). On this cosmically important night, family members gather together in the home of the family elder (typically grandparents, parents, or great aunts and uncles) to share sweets, red fruits (including pomegranate, watermelon, and persimmon), and a mix of candied and roasted nuts. Sometimes, Persian herbed rice with fish is steamed for dinner. In the old days, fruits were set on a korsi – a low table with a heating source underneath – and the family would huddle under a thick blanket to munch on treats and tell stories. The use of the korsi diminished as modern heating systems became common in Iranian homes, but the feeling of togetherness survives in various forms. Some choose to eschew the traditional ceremony and instead gather with close friends for a music-fueled dance party. Whatever the feast, the one ever-present element is the cherished poetry of Hafez, the 14th-century Iranian poet, and mystic, whose words, even 700 years later, are still revered as a kind of oracle by all generations. Similar to fortune-telling with a side of mysticism, each family member puts their hand on the edge of the book, closes their eyes as they make a wish, and opens up a random page. Every family has a dedicated reader, who interprets the selected poem to suit the details of the wisher’s life. It
Yalda Night Yalda is the traditional Iranian celebration of the winter solstice – the longest night of the year. Observed widely throughout Iran’s history stretching back into pre-Zoroastrian times, Yalda Night evolved into a treasured festival bringing the family together and continues to be practiced by Iranians around the world. The ritual symbolizes the rebirth
