Iran Press/Asia: For this special night, a traditional Sufrah e Yalda, featuring an array of fruits and sweets, along with the ritual of Fal e Hafiz, was curated to delight the attendees. The speakers at the event highlighted the millennia-old history of Yalda Night, noting that this enduring tradition remains vibrant across Iran and Central Asian countries. They emphasized that coming together at the homes of elders on this longest night, to share food, drink, and stories, plays a crucial role in strengthening family bonds.
In an interview with Iran Press, Dr. Mehdi Taheri, Director of the Cultural Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Rawalpindi, highlighted the cultural significance of Yalda Night. He explained that this cherished festival brings families together at the grandparents' home, where they share stories and celebrate. A special table, laden with pomegranates, watermelons, sweets, and dried fruits, is meticulously prepared for the occasion.
Dr. Taheri proudly noted that Yalda Night is recognized by UNESCO and celebrated internationally, underscoring its widespread cultural impact. He expressed his heartfelt wish that this festival, which fosters prosperity and love within families, would also bring happiness and unity to people around the world.
While celebrating the Yalda Night festival, a fortune-telling program (Fal e Hafiz) was also organized for the students and they participated in this process with great interest. Talking to Iran Press, a student Nayab said, "We also celebrate such a festival in our area, but for the first time I came to know that this festival is celebrated in Iran under the name of Shab e Yalda. I have learned a lot from today's program and if I get a chance, I will definitely learn Persian. If there is a Persian class in our university, I will definitely study it because the poetry of our national poet Allama Iqbal is in Persian and it is not possible to understand his poetry without knowing Persian".
Another student Aqila, talking to Iran Press, said, "I belong to Gilgit and we celebrate this festival with a different name there. We all get together, do many activities and prepare dishes and also cast fortune-telling practice." Additionally, the Cultural Centre of the Islamic Republic of Iran screened a documentary about Shab e Yalda for the students. The participants were highly engaged, watching with keen interest and leaving the session with a richer understanding of the cultural significance of this ancient tradition.
Another student, Umm-Al-Banin, told Iran Press, "The difference between the Yalda Night celebrated in Iran and the Meifang festival celebrated in Gilgit-Baltistan is that Iranians decorate the table on this occasion, eat sweet and fruits, tell stories and practice Fal e Hafiz, but in our countryside, traditional food is cooked and distributed and a fire is lit. Some people light candles and go to the mountains and light them there. We do not celebrate this night at home but go out and celebrate with people and cultural dance is performed, while in Iran this festival is celebrated with families. If I get the opportunity, I would like to learn Persian with great pleasure. Persian is a very sweet language and it is very pleasant to speak as our poet Allama Iqbal's poetry is also in Persian, so it is a must to learn it."
To conclude the event, Hosseini recited a special prayer in which everyone joined, while fruits and sweets were distributed among the students.
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