Coinciding with the arrival of the ancient Yalda Night, the cultural and artistic event “Chelleh-ye Mehr” was held on Thursday, December 18, at the ECO Cultural Institute (ECI).

In an exclusive interview with Iran Press, the ECO Deputy highlighted cultural differences between Iran and Turkey, noting that Yalda Night is not widely celebrated in his country.

Ahmad Akalin, who began his mission in Iran three months ago, said: “In Turkey, Yalda Night (December 21) is recognized as the longest night of the year, but its celebration is limited to areas of Anatolia that preserve ancient traditions.”

Hossein Amiri - Mojtaba Darabi