Tehran – Iranian Ashes Festival as Iran’s largest food festival is the opportunity for Iranians of all different ethnic groups, cultures and languages to share their own ways of cooking local food with their fellow people.
According to the Iranian news agency in northwestern Iran, the Iranian National Ash Festival is a cultural and fun event in Iran that began work in 2005.
This year, chefs from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and India also participated in the 18th Iran Ashes Festival, showing more than 14 traditional dishes.
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.
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 sometimes ash, ash, or? Transliterated as sh, usually hot and is part of Persian cuisine. 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.
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 specific cultural role in Iranian society as cooked 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 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, and engage in favorite activities, local sports and rhythmic movements.
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 in rhythmic movements on the festival’s sidelines, local women baking traditional breads in nomadic tents, and playing folk music and competing, are elements that gave the festival a special sense and atmosphere.