Cultural Traditions

By: Behnam Yousefi

Farmers perform ‘Shovel Turning’ to cherish precipitation

MAHALLAT, Apr. 20 (MNA) – Every year in late winter and early spring, the local people and farmers of Nimvar, near Mahallat in central Iran, perform the thousands-year-old ‘Shovel Turning’ ceremony to cherish the gift of precipitation and thank Anahita, the ancient goddess of water. Turning the shovel symbolizes the joint effort and empathy among the people living together in a community.

By: Arian Nasrollahi

Kurdish Dance Festival in Baneh

BANEH, Apr. 17 (MNA) – The 3rd edition of Kurdish Dance Festival was held in the western border town of Baneh, Kurdistan Province, during which different dance groups from various Kurdish-populated areas in Iran displayed their traditional dancing skills on Tuesday.

By: Faezeh Kaboli

'Nowruz Khani' tradition in Golestan

GORGAN, Mar. 15 (MNA) – On the last Wed. of the year, people of 'Balajadeh' village in Kordkouy city in Golestan province, take part in the ‘Nowruz Khani’ ritual, in which they go from house to house, while singing lines of poetry in praise of Spring, the new year and the nature. It is customary for the householders to give them gifts or to offer them sweets.

By: Mohammad Khodabakhsh

New Year shopping in Tajrish Bazaar

TEHRAN, Mar. 13 (MNA) – With the Persian New Year fast approaching, which falls on March 21 this year, shopping malls are abuzz with people doing the traditional New Year shopping. The Tajrish old bazaar continues to be a favorite spot for this tradition, located along the northern edge of the capital.

By: Maryam Kamyab

Persian silk brocade

BANDAR ABBAS, Jan. 22 (MNA) – Silk brocade is the main traditional clothing of women in the southern Iranian provinces of Hormozgan and Bushehr. Brocade is a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in colored silks and with or without gold and silver threads.

By: Reza Zanganeh

‘Korsi’ festival in Hamedan

TEHRAN, Jan. 07 (MNA) – Festival of ‘Korsi’, Iran's historical low table equipped with heater, was held Sun. in Hamam-e Qal'eh Museum of Anthropology, in Hamedan province. The ceremony marks an old Iranian tradition during winter nights, and will go through January 12.

By: Hamid Heydari

Harvesting watermelon for Yalda Night

HASHTBANDI, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Few days remaining to winter, Hashtbandi farmers in Hormozgan province are harvesting watermelon for the Yalda Night. Yalda is an Iranian festival celebrated on the longest and darkest night of the year (Dec. 21). Families gather and enjoy spending the night together. Watermelon, the red color of which symbolizes the glow of life, is traditionally decorated and eaten on this night.

By: Shahab Ghayoumi

Iranians preparing for Yalda Night

TEHRAN, Dec. 16 (MNA) – Iranians are preparing for Yalda Night, known also as the Chelleh Night. Yalda is one of the most celebrated traditional events in Iran, which marks the longest night of the year (Dec. 21), that is, in the night of the Northern Hemisphere's winter solstice. It is a time when friends and family members get together to eat and read poem until well after midnight. Fruits and nuts, particularly pomegranates and watermelons, are significant for Yalda parties.

Pars Tourism Exhibition in Shiraz

TEHRAN, Dec. 13 (MNA) – The 10th edition of Pars Tourism Exhibition kicked off in Shiraz, Fars province, on Wednesday in attendance of the head of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Ali Asghar Mounesan. The four-day event is turning the spotlight on Iran's potentials in medical and health tourism, religious and air traveling, hotels and eco-lodges, marine and air sports, online booking, free trade zones, recreational activities and handicrafts.

By: Amin Berenjkar

84,000kg 'nazri' Persian Ash stewed in Shiraz

SHIRAZ, Nov. 07 (MNA) – Concurrent with the passing anniversary of Islam's Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), 84,000kg 'nazri' Ash (a Persian cuisine) was stewed in Shiraz to be distributed for free among the poor and other people wishing to be served a dish which is considered holy for anyone who eats it or makes it.

Wedding ceremony in Khorsan Razavi’s Kalat

KALAT, Jun. 17 (MNA) – Pictures vividly depict a traditional wedding ceremony held at Kalat. Located in northeastern Khorasan Razavi province and Hezar Masjed Ranges, Kalat is home to the Khorshid Palace, built by the Afsharid dynasty (1736-1796). The city has some 8,000 citizens according to 2016 nationwide census.

By: Raheleh Hesari

Gorgan hosts 11th festival of ethnic cultures

TEHRAN, Sep. 08 (MNA) – The eleventh edition of the festival of Ethnic Cultures is underway in the Iranian northeastern city of Gorgan, Golestan province.

By: Mobin Paymankar

6th Intl. Festival of Traditional Games in Marivan

MARIVAN, Sep. 07 (MNA) – The sixth edition of International Festival of Traditional and Local Games was held on Thu. with participation of Iranian and foreign teams from Georgia, Azerbaijan Republic and Iraq near Lake Zarivar in Marivan, Kurdistan Province of western Iran.

By: Asghar Besharati

Nowruz-e Sayyad day in Qeshm

QESHM, Jul. 26 (MNA) – Annually on July 19 in Selakh rural district of Qeshm Island, fishermen celebrate Nowruz-e Sayyad day, meaning the Fisher’s New Year, which is one of the oldest Iranian traditions.

By: Rahimi, Riazi

Ancient city of Khansar

KHANSAR, May 07 (MNA) – Khansar is a city located in Isfahan province. It dates back to pre-Islamic era. ‘Khan’ means spring and the suffix ‘Sar’ indicates plurality in traditional Persian. It is named ‘Khansar’ due to the large number of springs in the region in the past. The city has abundant natural and historical attractions.

By: Mehran Riazi

Nature Day in Tehran

TEHRAN, Apr. 03 (MNA) – Iran Nature Day known as Sizdah-Bedar (Out on 13th) is marked on the 13th day of the current month of Farvardin corresponding to April 2, when Iranians have the tradition of spending the day outdoors.

By: Farhad Safari

Shopping for Yalda Night

TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) – Yalda Night, known also as the Chelleh Night, falls on December 20, this year. Considered the longest night of the year when the ancient Iranians celebrated the birth of Mithra, the goddess of light, the Yalda Night was registered on the Iran’s National Heritage List in 2008.

By: Mohammad Mohsenifar

A view of daily life in Iran – 48

TEHRAN, Aug. 03 (MNA) – A journey through the heart of Iran and capturing scenes from daily commuting in subway.