Archive for 'Iran'
Thousands gather to celebrate ancient Zoroastrian fire festival

Thousands gather to celebrate ancient Zoroastrian fire festival

Posted 05 February 2010 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Festivities, Iran | 5 Comments

CHAM, Iran – Thousands of Iranians gathered at dusk against a snowy mountain backdrop to light giant bonfires in an ancient midwinter festival dating back to Iran’s pre-Islamic past that is drawing new interest from Muslims.
By Associated Press / Boston.com
Saturday’s celebration was the first in which the dwindling remnants of Iran’s once plentiful Zoroastrian [...]

Achaemenid K’aba of Zoroaster In Danger of Collapsing

Achaemenid K’aba of Zoroaster In Danger of Collapsing

Posted 04 February 2010 | By Shirin Kumaana-Wadia | Categories: Iran | 22 Comments

The Achaemenid dynastic structure known as the Ka’aba of Zoroaster is on the verge of collapse due to escalating earth sinkage at the ancient site of Naqsh-e Rostam in Fars Province.
Published by Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies
The measured earth sinkage previously reported by experts was five centimetres, but a new survey shows that this [...]

The Lost Persian Army: Compelling Evidence in the Sahara

The Lost Persian Army: Compelling Evidence in the Sahara

Posted 16 November 2009 | By Mehernaaz Sam Wadia | Categories: History, Iran | 2 Comments

The remains of a legendary 50,000-strong army which was swallowed up in a cataclysmic sandstorm in the Sahara Desert 2,500 years ago are believed to have been found.
Italian archaeologists Angelo and Alfredo Castiglioni, twin brothers, have discovered bronze weapons and hundreds of human bones which they reckon are the remains of the lost army of [...]

Prayers Offered at ancient Azargoshasb Fire Temple

Posted 15 October 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: History, Iran | 57 Comments

From Amordad News.
 
The sound of Avesta, on 27 Shahrivar (18 September) once again filled Azargoshasb Fire Temple.
In Azargoshasb Fire Temple Zoroastrians recited the Avesta and prayed for a strong unity and cooperation of Zoroastrians of the world.  It is 6 years that this ceremony is being organized, annually, by Yatha Ahu site.  Azargoshasb is [...]

On the road in rural Iran

Posted 14 September 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Iran | No Comments

Rural Iran has startlingly beautiful landscapes that are largely unexplored by outsiders
By Jini Reddy The Guardian, Saturday 12 September 2009
[Hat Tip: Jim Engineer via NextGenNow@Linkedin]

I was tired. Exhausted. Ready to flop. I’d arrived in Zarabad, a sweet secluded village north of Tehran, with sleep rather than sightseeing on my mind. But in Iran, a land [...]

Zoroastrian Anthropology Museum in Kerman, Iran

Posted 05 June 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Heritage, History, Iran | No Comments

The idea of establishing the museum goes back to the year 1983, when the library of the Kerman Association of Zoroastrians was established.
Head of the association Parviz Vakhshuri and library director Mehran Gheibi collected historical artifacts for the museum.
The museum was officially inaugurated in summer 2005 in the presence of the then head [...]

Iranian Hospitality: Food and Social Customs

Posted 12 May 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Culture, Iran | No Comments

Iranian hospitality attack
A survival guide for the non-Iranian traveler
By Hamid Taghavi March 20, 1998 The Iranian
Beware! Forget about all the xenophobic, anti-Iranian propaganda dominating the media.What they say about terrorism and your life being in danger in Iran is absolute hogwash (I have no [...]

India, Iran to hold seminar on Iran and Zoroastrianism

Posted 22 April 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Culture, India, Iran | No Comments

The Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) and India’s Cama Oriental Institute are to hold a seminar on Iran and Zoroastrianism on April 27.
ICRO International Department Director Khalaj Monfared recently discussed the issue with Cama Oriental Institute President M.N.M. Cama and.
Homai N. Modi, the trustee and secretary of the institute, who was also [...]

Iran: The Forgotten Glory: DVD

Iran: The Forgotten Glory: DVD

Posted 02 April 2009 | By Shirin Kumaana-Wadia | Categories: Film, Iran | 1 Comment

Iran: The Forgotten Glory is a two part DVD Movie about the Persia of yore.
“Shot in over 60 locations in the province of FARS and 5 years in the making, “IRAN, The Forgotten Glory” is the first independent documentary film series taking the audience on a journey into the depths of ancient Persian civilization, [...]

Navroze at Pasargade

Navroze at Pasargade

Posted 30 March 2009 | By Shirin Kumaana-Wadia | Categories: Iran | 1 Comment

Here are some pictures of Navroze being celebrated in Pasargade. However I do not have the year this was. Probably 2009 or 2008.

The Persepolis Celebrations of 1971

Posted 30 March 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Iran | No Comments

From Teheran to Persepolis: All the Glitter of the Empire
 
This is the title of a fantastic website that has the entire event in photographs and text. A definite must read.

Website Link

2500 Years: The Persepolis Celebrations of 1971

2500 Years: The Persepolis Celebrations of 1971

Posted 29 March 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Culture, Iran | No Comments

Aryanmehr, an Iranian blog has a long write up about the Persepolis celebrations of 1971.
We are awake
2,500-year celebrations revisited
By Cyrus Kadivar
The sky was dark on that Christmas Day in Paris. As I walked down the quiet Avenue du President Wilson the leaves lay sodden in the streets and the howling wind drove the [...]

President Obama’s Norouz Message to The People of Iran

President Obama’s Norouz Message to The People of Iran

Posted 21 March 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Festivities, Iran | No Comments

This is a fantastic video that was aired all over the Middle East Television networks. President Barack Obama uses the new year to greet the people and the leaders of Iran.

Cambridge Univ to observe 1,000 years of Shahnamah

Posted 15 March 2009 | By arzan sam wadia | Categories: Heritage, History, Iran | No Comments

Cambridge University will observe 1,000 years of the Shahnama or book of kings by the Persian poet Firdausi in 2010. This epic verse was
compiled in 1,010 AD which narrates the history of the Iranian people from the earliest times to the collapse of the Persian empire in the early seventh century. This was [...]

Ancient Zoroastrian Valentine’s Day Custom Remains Alive

Posted 20 February 2009 | By Shirin Kumaana-Wadia | Categories: Culture, Festivities, Iran | No Comments

Love conquers all but tradition
Maryam Sinaiee, Foreign Correspondent
Young people shop for Valentine’s gifts in a mall outside Tehran on Valentine’s Day. Newsha Tavakolian / The National
TEHRAN // While Iranian teenagers have lately chosen Valentine’s Day to express affection to their loved ones, many older Iranians, who find the popularisation of the day [...]

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