Why it matters:
Saryazd, one of Iran’s oldest fortified villages, is home to a Sassanid-era citadel, Ilkhanid gates, ancient caravanserais, and a network of water reservoirs and historic homes. Festivals like this play a key role in catalyzing sustainable rural development, helping to curb migration, generate income, and preserve intangible cultural heritage.
The big picture:
The festival opened with a traditional 'Anar Keshoun' ceremony, where villagers carried baskets of freshly harvested pomegranates from the Safavid-era caravanserai to the exhibition site.
Residents participated spontaneously, offering pomegranates in front of their homes and showcasing handmade crafts, regional cuisine, and pomegranate-based products.
The event featured stalls selling dried pomegranate seeds, molasses, jams, and herbal remedies, as well as pottery, textiles, and woodwork unique to the region.
Between the lines:
The festival aligns with broader efforts across Iran to revitalize rural tourism and promote local economies through cultural events. Similar to Azerbaijan’s UNESCO-recognized Nar Bayrami festival, which celebrates the symbolic and culinary value of pomegranates, Saryazd’s initiative reflects a growing regional trend of using fruit festivals to blend heritage with economic opportunity.
Go deeper:
Pomegranate; What Iran is known for
Hossein Amiri - M.a.Mahmoudi
