Tehran – The Loosewater Distillation Festival is ongoing at the Percien Shopping Centre in Karaj, Alborz Province, a caretaker of the Alborz Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Bureau.
Nader Zeinali also said the festival will begin on May 13th and will be held on June 2nd from 4pm to 11pm.
He added that 40 food stalls have been launched at the fairgrounds dedicated to handicrafts, souvenirs and local products.
He said three food stalls have been assigned to traditional drinks and rose water distillation processes. Three rose water distillation pots have been installed there, he added.
He pointed out that two music groups, LOR, Kord, Tork, Kormanj, Gilaki and DAF players, Clans, will play music during the festival.
Zeinali said the purpose behind hosting such events was to revive ancient traditions, support artisans and local producers, and create a vibrant and social atmosphere.
The Rosewater Festival, held in Iran, is estimated to be the birthplace of world rosewater production, and is a unique sociocultural event that is precious enough to be on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
Known as Golabgiri in Persian, this ancient ritual is held annually in Iran and introduces the most important role roses play in cooking, cosmetics, medicine and tradition.
Important festivals are held every spring, usually from mid-May to the end of June.
Rosewater, a Persian golab, is traditionally produced from damask roses. This very sweet and aromatic flower is locally called Gol-e Mohammadi or Gol-e Sorkh in Iranian culture.
As spring approaches in Iran, roses bloom in every corner of the country. Iran is reportedly considered the world’s leading producer of damask roses, accounting for 70% of global production.
KD