Pakistani Muslims making sweets in fasting month of Ramadan. (IRNA Photo)

A seminar titled 'Monotheistic Religions' Outlook Towards Fasting' attended by a number of Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars as well as a large group of Muslim youth was held here on Thursday.
The seminar was sponsored by the Youth Department of the Non-Governmental Institute for Interreligious Dialogue.
Participants at the gathering discussed the common beliefs on the necessity of fasting in all the faiths as well as differences in the performance of this divine order.
Addressing the gathering, a university instructor, Hojjatollah Javani elaborated on the emphasis Islam places on fasting and described self-restraint, piety and attention to the needy as the most important spiritual impacts of fasting during the lunar month of Ramadan.
Islamic teachings view fasting as a means to smooth the way to God and not to impose hardship and suffering on mankind, he said.
"All divine books have been revealed to the prophets during the fasting month, " he said, adding that the holy Qur'an in its entirety was also communicated on Ramadan's Lailat Al-Qadr (Destiny Night).
Meanwhile, the priest Ashou Tamarz said, "Humanity is not alive for bread; rather it is alive for the divine teachings and the fasting teaches us to be hopeful for God's blessing."
Describing fasting as one of the most important abstentions in all religions, he further said that all the divine faiths, even the non-divine ones have viewed fasting as a way of getting rid of habits and irrelevant earthly gains.
A Jewish instructor, Arash Abaei, for his part pointed to the existence of important kinds of fasting such as Yom Kippur fasting, which is even respected by a non-practicing Jew. This reveals that fasting leads the humanity to God, he added.
In Jewish religion, abstaining from eating and drinking helps cultivate the spirit.
Youth Department of the Institute for Interreligious Dialogue was established this year by a number of Zoroastrian, Muslim, Christian and Jewish youth with the aim of creating solidarity among the youth of different religions, put an end to religious violence, promote culture of peace and justice and strengthen spiritual morale.
The Institute for Interreligious Dialogue, which was set up in 2000, has so far organized various meetings on the necessity of dialogue and philosophical issues.

Students visiting intÕl QurÕan exhibition which is underway in Tehran. (IRNA Photo)

TEHRAN, Oct. 31--Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Ahmad Masjed-Jamei said the importance given to QurÕanic teachings in the affairs of the country over the past 25 years has been instrumental in bringing development and progress.
He made the remark at a ceremony here Saturday to honor those taking up QurÕanic studies and arts. He noted that QurÕanic themes have dominated national programs and policies over the past 25 years with the support of both officials and the public.
The minister referred to the progress and spread of QurÕanic activities as a most remarkable achievement of the Islamic Revolution, and noted the importance of developing and maintaining ties with other countries that believe in the same objective of enhancing QurÕanic activities in their national policies.
He said joint projects on QurÕanic themes, holding international seminars and hosting world-renowned QurÕanic figures would serve to encourage QurÕanic activities as well as strengthen ties with world countries to promote QurÕanic activities globally.

TEHRAN, Oct. 31--Given the revolution in the field of information technology, no one can isolate himself/herself within cultural and artistic boundaries, observed an Iranian author.
Hooshang Mahrouyan told ILNA under the present circumstances cultural interactions and exchanges are inevitable. "Those cultures which cannot take part in such exchanges are doomed. To defend one's culture, art or literature, they have to be empowered," he added.
Mahrouyan asserted that cultural and artistic products have to be developed so that they can compete with other works at an international level. "Culture and art should never be influenced by politics. Art should be free and independent," he asserted.

SHIRAZ, Fars, Oct. 31--Archeologists have come across some samples of cuneiform scripts etched on clays in Persepolis, Cultural Heritage News agency reported.
However, the archeologists could not decipher them because they were not familiar with this form of cuneiform script. Hence, they dispatched the samples to American and European experts to be decoded.
A special project was launched in Parseh Research Foundation four months ago to conduct investigations on several Achaemenid clay writings.
In the course of investigations on the writings on clay, an expert of ancient handwritings, Abdolmajid Arfai came across a triangle-shaped clay measuring 2 cm X 2cm X 4 cm.
Given the absence of experts on other types of cuneiform handwriting in Iran, he said pictures of these handwritings have been sent to American, German and Italian universities to discern the type of handwriting and decipher them.

TEHRAN, Oct. 31--The first festival of contemporary Iranian music will be performed by Armenian string orchestra at the Persian Gulf Hall of Niavaran Cultural House, Tehran in December-January, reported ILNA.
Quoting an official in charge of Niavaran Arts Center, Sassan Rasouli, it said that contemporary arts in any culture indicate the capabilities or shortcomings of that culture. ÒA study of contemporary arts provides proof that the future path should be trodden better and intelligently.Ó
The festival will be held for two nights featuring concerts in the quartet form by Loris Tjeknovarian, Hormoz Farhat, Alireza Mashayekhi, Reza Vali, Shahin Farhat, Tafreshipour, and Mehran Rowhani among others.
Rasouli said that the compositions of the concerts have been prepared by Iranian expatriates in Austria.

TEHRAN, Oct. 31--An exhibit of ÔQurÕan in Arts MirrorÕ organized by two Iranian calligraphers from West Azarbaijan province opened in Baku, capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
In a report, IRNA said on Saturday that Iranian expatriates in Baku thronged the exhibit to welcome the calligraphers at the Iran-Azerbaijan Friendship Hall, Akhondov Library.
Speaking at the event, Iranian Ambassador in Baku Afshar Soleymani said that Islamic nations have pursued the way of the Almighty as laid down in the holy book to make strides for progress, development and cooperation. He said that the holy QurÕan has helped Muslim nations to come together and form solidarity.
Giving an example of the Islamic solidarity, Soleymani said that Iran and Azerbaijan Republic have developed diplomatic, economic and cultural cooperation.
Changiz Ali Ogli, an official in charge of publishing affairs at the Azeri Ministry of Culture said on behalf of AzerbaijanÕs minister of culture that the exhibit is an indication of friendship and cultural amity of the nations.
Some 52 works of calligraphy by Rasoul Molla-Bahrami, and Mohammad Baqer Jaafarzadeh are on display in the exhibit which will continue until November 4.

TEHRAN, Oct. 31--Iranian artist Ataollah Omidvar will hold three solo exhibits in France to display his works in modern digital arts.
According to the Persian daily, Aftab, Omidvar took 100 digital artworks and five other works measuring 3 meters x 2 meters to France to display them on January 9-12, 2005 at exhibits in Paris.
He is also is expected to hold exhibit in Paris on January 9 at the invitation of Iranian cultural attachŽ.
Omidvar will present his works at the International Center of the Artists in Paris on January 12, 2005.
The last exhibit which Omidvar will hold in Paris is the ÔCollection of the White NightÕ.
He will hold an exhibit in Tehran at Seven Samar Gallery in Tehran on January 26.

TEHRAN, Oct. 31--The Ninth International Festival of Short Films due to be held on November 17-22 will host 54 countries, secretariat of the festival said in a press release.
Armenia, Egypt, Kuwait and Burkina Faso will take part in the festival in addition to 50 countries which had taken part in the international short film festival.
Meanwhile, a producer of animation films Vahid Nassirian said that public screening of short films concurrently with features films in the cinema should become a convention.
He said that public screening of short films does not generate income for the producer, but it boosts the spirit of the filmmaker.
Nassirian noted that in other countries, screen short films are usually screened before a feature film and hoped that the Iranian cinemas would follow suit.
He said that the producers of short films have established themselves in the cinema sector.

NEW YORK, Oct. 31--When the movie 'Ray', about legendary singer Ray Charles, hits US theaters on Friday, 'Georgia on My Mind' wonÕt be the only thing Hollywood is thinking about. The battle for Oscars nominations will take center stage as well.
'Ray' is the first of the award seasonÕs major movies to roll into theaters backed by a big campaign for the film industryÕs top honors, the Academy Awards, which are handed out in February.
Early buzz is that comic actor Jamie Foxx is a shoo-in for a best actor nomination for playing the musician who overcame blindness, heroin addiction and poverty to lay the foundation of soul music and become one of AmericaÕs most beloved entertainers.
Oscar handicappers say they expect the best actor race to be the most competitive. But for now, all the talk is mere speculation because as the movies play over the next four months, this yearÕs contest will change many times.
"This is the fun part of the race, speculating wildly," said Tom OÕNeil, host of award show tracker GoldDerby.com.