The Iranian National Ashes Festival is a culturally fun event in Iran that I began working in 2005. The festival is held annually at the Gabazan (Erdagi) Recreation Centre in Zanjan, northwest Iran.
This year, chefs from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and India also participated in the 18th Iran Ashes Festival, showing more than 14 traditional dishes.
Governance Recreation Centre in Zanjan
As the country’s largest food festival, the event is not only a food festival, but also a four-day opportunity for Iranian ethnic groups to gather at a national event to improve unity and national spirit despite their different local clothing, rituals, traditions, cultures, dialects and languages.
The whole festival is attracting attention from chefs from almost every state in the country who showcase and sell local food, patages and audible souvenirs, as well as artisans and artists who make precious handicrafts at the pavilions.
Iranian food, global food
Famous for its slogan “Iranian cuisine, food from around the world,” the festival focuses on delicious Iranian dishes, which are basically called “Ash” in Persian.
Ash is sometimes served hot as ash, AASH or āsh and is translated as part of a Persian dish. It has also been found in Afghanistan, Azerbaijani, white and Turkish cuisine.
There are dozens of recipes in this traditional dish, so Iranian people from various ethnic groups will take part in this festival to display specific recipes for cooking different types of ashes and other local foods.
Based on a variety of recipes and flavors, this nutrient food is designed with deep-fried meat, onion, garlic, yogurt, whey, dried herbs, fruits, almonds, nuts and more.
Usually at the festival’s closing ceremony, organizers will showcase winners from various sections, including cooked ash, handicrafts and other interesting competitions.
Winner of Iran’s Ashes in Local Clothes
The diet bound by the culture of Iranian society is awake
If you wonder why ash is advocated as the main meal for such a large food festival. The answer is here.
From providing ingredients to preparing them, to preparing food, to serving them, everyone needs a cooperative measure.
Food has played a particular cultural role in Iranian society as cooking ashes bring people together and strengthen friendship, unity and kindness among neighbors and fellow citizens.
Since ancient times, Iranians make ashes on happy occasions and share their happiness with their loved ones. They also cook this food and express their sympathy for sad issues such as losing someone.
The roots of the National Ashes of Iran in ancient Iran
The roots of holding such meal festivals in Iran can be traced back to the ancient times when Iranian people and farmers shared happiness with each other through rituals, thanking the blessings of the earth, the success of autumn harvests, and hopes for the growing season of spring season.
These fun rituals come together to showcase crops, food and more, as well as play favorite activities, local sports and dance.
Today, the modern edition of the National Ashes of Iran shares some characteristics with such ancient Iranian Thanksgiving rituals in that they gather together, display local food and carry out local activities.
Many cultural sections, including Iranian ethnic groups dressed in colorful local clothing, men who dance folk on the sidelines of the festival, local women who bake traditional bread in nomadic tents, and playing folk music and playing competitions, are elements that gave the festival a special sense and atmosphere.
Traditional Stick Dances in Sistan and Baluchistan
Man holding Kurdish traditional folk dance at the National Iran Ash Festival