[TEHRAN]Gorgan will hold the 17th Iranian Ethnic Culture Festival from November 16th to 18th. The three-day event brings together cultural, arts and craft groups from across the country and nine international countries.
According to Mehr News Agency, Reza Ghiashizadeh, the festival’s executive director, said on Wednesday afternoon that the festival will be held at the Gorgan International Exhibition Center, adding that 80 handicraft pavilions from each province, 50 artisan pavilions from Golestan, and 10 international pavilions from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Pakistan will participate. Afghanistan, Iraq and India will also participate.
He added that in the section of institutions related to the field of cultural heritage, about 40 booths are planned for institutions such as technical and professional associations, the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee (IKRC), welfare organizations, prison administrations and universities.
The Festival Director-General said that the cultural section of the event includes an evening of culture from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which will be held in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and this section will be attended by more than 100 foreign guests.
Mr. Ghiashizadeh continued that in the field of music, 18 ceremonial groups will perform in the main hall and 25 local groups will perform in the outdoor area.
A “nomadic tent” will also be set up to introduce the lifestyle of nomads from all over the country.
He said that for the first time this year, an “Iranian food alley” and a special “Iranian souvenirs” section were opened at the entrance of the exhibition so that visitors could get to know different foods and local products from different regions of the country.
KD