Tehran – After more than 50 years of silence, the people of Bam in southeastern Iran have revived an ancient tradition honoring Kanat.
On Wednesday, a traditional ceremony was held in Bam, southern Iran, throwing flowers and rosewater into the flowing water of canats.
The event coincided with Iran’s Kanat National Day. Iran falls 40 days after the Knowles, the Persian New Year, which is the period during which the canats usually reach peak currents.
Historically, the day marked the iconic beginning of annual maintenance work at Qanats. In the past, local well digging, known as Moqannis, purifies it in honor of its precious water source, carrying flowers and sprinkling rosewater before entering the aqueduct. This act not only represents a respect for nature, but also expressed gratitude for the ingenuity of our ancestors who developed this important water system.
The practice, which had declined from memory for over half a century, officially revived in 2022. It aims to reconnect local communities with cultural heritage and raise awareness about the importance of maintaining Qanats, a system recognized by UNESCO for its historical and technical importance.
Participants at the ceremony said they came to honor their ancestors and to thank the knowledge and traditions that have been passed down over generations. Many of them are internationally recognized under the Iranian name.
In 2016, under the Persian Canut title, 11 Canut selections were collectively engraved as World Heritage Sites. Each of them represents many others in terms of geographical scope, architectural design, and other motivations. Such underground tunnels provide extraordinary testimony to cultural traditions and civilization in desert regions with arid climates.
Generally, each Qanat consists of an almost horizontal tunnel for collecting water from an underground water source, usually an alluvial fan.
UNESCO says “Kanut offers exceptional testimony to the cultural traditions and civilizations of desert regions with arid climates.”
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