Iranian Centre marks ‘Shab-e-Yalda’ festival

PESHAWAR: The Cultural Centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran hosted a function to mark the Persian festival of Shab-e-Yalda or Yalda Night.Director-General of the centre, Dr Hussain Chaqomi, welcomed the guests who were there with families.

The cultural diplomat said cultural events such as Shab-e-Yalda signified the rich cultural heritage of Iran and Persia in general. He said we should never get detached from our cultural traditions even in this era of technological advancements.

Dr Hussain Chaqomi said Shab-e-Yalda was an ancient festival in Iran which was celebrated as well in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey on the winter solstice.

He said the longest night of the year was a time for bringing people closer when friends and families gather to take food, drink and read poetry.The diplomat thanked the people for attending the function and keeping a good tradition alive.

A scholar of the Persian language and academician, Prof Syed Ghayur Hussain, dwelt at length at Shab-e-Yalda by going into the history and other aspects of the festival. He said Yalda was the longest night of the year.

He said the festival corresponds to the night of December 20/21 in the Gregorian calendar and to the night between the last day of the ninth month (Azar) and the first day of the tenth month (Dey) of the Iranian solar calendar. Prof Ghayur said Shab-e-Yalda was an important festivity and that was why it was celebrated not only in Iran but also other historically Iranian-influenced regions.

The professor said fruits and nuts were eaten and pomegranates and watermelons were particularly significant at the festival. He said the red color in these fruits symbolized the crimson hues of dawn and glow of life.Other speakers also talked on the occasion.