Iraj Fortress in Varamin, Tehran province

TEHRAN, July 29--Iraj Fortress, the world’s largest adobe fortress located in Varamin, 40 kms southeast of Tehran, will soon be restored and transformed into a tourism hub.
After many years of neglect, the fort is set to become a key cultural entertainment center.
The fortress is 1,800 meters long and 1,200 meters wide while its walls are 8-12 meters thick. The bricks used in the construction of the walls measure 12x46x46 cms.
The fortress which is considered as the world’s largest adobe fortification is situated on the north of Varamin-Pishva road. The fortress has a gateway on each side.
Despite the importance of this historical fortress, it has been neglected and no research has been conducted on it so far, keeping in tact the mysteries behind the fortress which is surrounded by farmland.
Head of Varamin Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department told Iran Daily that some attribute the monument to the Sassanid era (226-650 AD) while others say it even goes back to the Arsacid Dynasty (first to second centuries BC). However what is for sure is that it dates back to the pre-Islamic era.
Nader Shirkavand further said that the edifice, which is now publicly known as Gabri Fortress, has been mentioned in Avesta as Warna, meaning quadrangle in Ancient Persian and birthplace of Fereydoun, slayer of Zahhak. (Related story extensively dealt with in Shahnameh, an epic work by the well-known Iranian poet Hakim Abolqasem Ferdowsi).
He added that the fort was considered in the past as one of the reliable military fortifications in the world.
Shirkavand noted that despite its antiquity, it has remained well-preserved and its gates are in good conditions.

KERMAN, July 29--Head of the Museums Department of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHHTO) has announced that the contents of all Iranian museums will be re-evaluated with the aim of making them comply with standards.
Speaking at a seminar of ICHHTO’s deputies in Kerman, Masoud Nosrati noted that a committee will be formed to take stock of artifacts maintained in museums, IRNA reported. He said that a project for developing, equipping and completing museums will be implemented. He however did not mention how the project will be funded.
“ICHHTO’s Directorate General for Museums currently has a budget deficit of 60 billion rials,“ he added.
The officials pointed out that a databank consisting of specifications of artifacts of museums is presently under compilation.
“Some Iranian museum buildings are themselves venues for important cultural and historical events and they do not need artifacts,“ the official added.
Describing Yasouj (in Kohkilouyeh-Boyerahmad province) as the center of Iranian tribal communities, Nosrati added that a natural museum extending over an area of 200 hectares featuring the works of tribesmen from Fars, East Azarbaijan and Khorasan Razavi provinces is currently under construction in the city.

MASHHAD, Khorasan Razavi, July 29--A faculty member of Mashhad Azad University’s Political Sciences College has opined that establishment of an organization for Persian-speaking countries is necessary to promote Iran’s ties with Central Asian states.
Speaking to ISNA, Mohammad Mohsen Hamidi added that setting up organizations or unions involving countries with common civilizations will activate their potentials.
He further stated, “Following a long interruption in cultural and historical ties between Iran and Central Asian states, we are now seeking to revive the commonalities.“
To forge ties based on cultural, historical and economic issues, those involved in cultural and political fields should be aware of cultural and historical heritage as well as diplomatic subtleties so that they will be able to take advantage of cultural and international opportunities.
Hamidi noted that Iran’s relations with Turkmenistan in the field of tourism is on the decline, but, this is while tourism industry can create numerous attractions for both sides.

TEHRAN, July 29--Huge investments will be needed to promote Qur’anic cinema and there should be no limit to the amount of fund allocated for the purpose, observed an Iranian film actor.
Speaking to IQNA, Hossein Mahjoub pointed out that films with religious themes are currently the focus of attention in Hollywood in terms of investment. Therefore national cinema should not have any restriction on spending in Qur’anic undertakings.
“This type of cinema requires huge investment and magnanimity by those involved in the sector,“ Mahjoub said.
“I believe that art is a religious activity rooted in high religious values,“ he said, adding that art embodies fineness which is found amply in religion. Hence, these two values cannot be separated, he noted.
Mahjoub, who acted in the film ’Big Drum Under Left Foot’, also observed that what is important in Qur’anic works is understanding the principles and putting them into practice.

TEHRAN, July 29--A book by Iranian writer, Mojtaba Rahmandoust, entitled ’Strange Journey’ was recently published by Soureh-Mehr Publishing House.
In a press release, the publisher said that the book is in fact a travelogue of a pilgrim who embarked on a journey to Mecca for Hajj on September 12, 1982 and after completing the rituals he went to Jordan, Syria and Turkey ending his journey 80 days later on November 30, 1982.
In his book, Rahmandoust elaborates on the events that happened during the Hajj pilgrimage, particularly in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.
He meticulously gives all the important details of the geography and culture of Mecca and Medina.
Part of his book reads, “I kissed the wall of Holy Kaaba as far as I could and began performing my prayers.“
The author added that he was encouraged by some of his friends to publish his travelogue after 24 years from my pilgrimage to Mecca.
He pointed out that since his journey to Mecca took place two years after the outbreak of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, the pilgrimage lasted about 80 days and it was full of strange incidents.
The book has 227 pages and is priced at 21,000 rials per copy.

TEHRAN, July 29--Director of Pars Theater, the oldest theater in Iran, said that this theater is on the verge of closure due to financial problems and negligence of certain officials.
Saba Maleki told Mehr news agency that various problems facing Pars Theater have not yet been resolved and the center is still grappling with financial difficulties without any governmental support.
“We cannot pay the loans which are due and we are presently in an uncertain situation. We do not even have sufficient budget for publicizing our performances,“ she added.
She pointed out that the price of a ticket is 10,000 rials and audience can watch two plays with one ticket.
Maleki has recently written a letter to Presidential Office in which she called for protecting the oldest theater building in Iran.
Two plays titled ’Successful Marriage’ directed by Saba Maleki and ’What Is Going on Here?’ by Pouriya Vaziri are currently being performed at Pars Theater Hall.

TEHRAN, July 29--New museums featuring relics of the Sacred Defense Era (the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war) will be set up in several cities across the nation by the Office for Museums Affairs.
Announcing this, head of the office Masoud Nosrati told the Persian daily Jaam-e Jam that given the fact that Sacred Defense is part of the country’s cultural heritage, establishing and equipping museums pertaining to the Sacred Defense Era is among the high priorities for his department. Commenting on the funds allocated for the purpose, he said that last year some 10 billion rials was earmarked for safeguarding and introducing sacred defense heritage and this year, the same amount has been envisaged for the purpose.
“For the time being, establishment of museums in Dezful, Kermanshah, Kurdestan, Ilam and West Azarbaijan have been given the priority,“ he noted.
Nosrati also announced the launching of a website on the Sacred Defense Era.
Meanwhile, head of Hamedan Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department said that an agreement to design a 12,000-square-meter museum in Hegmataneh Hills has been signed.

Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has launched a two-year project to study and reserve a bundle of Buddhist scriptures that were written on leaves more than 1,000 years ago.

LHASA, China, July 29--Southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region has launched a two-year project to study and preserve a bundle of Buddhist scriptures that were written on leaves more than 1,000 years ago and brought to the region from India.
According to Xinhuanet.com, there are some 4,300 ’pages’ of the rare tree-leaf Buddhist Sanskrit scripture in 426 volumes, said Hu Chunhua, a top official of the autonomous Region, quoting figures provided by the local cultural heritage administration.
The documents were brought to Tibet from India between the 7th and 13th centuries and have remained quite well preserved, said Cewang Jinme, president of the Tibet Academy of Social Sciences.
The scriptures are inscribed on stripes of leaves of the pattra tree which is native to tropical climates and similar to a palm tree. The tree’s leaves, which are easily transportable and durable, were used before there was wide access to paper. A steel pen was used to etch the Sanskrit directly on to the leaves, which themselves became a Buddhist symbol of brightness as the scriptures brought enlightenment.
The inscribed strips contain narratives of ancient Indian literature, legal codes and classic Buddhist writings. Most of the leaf-inscribed scriptures are stored in major monasteries, museums and research institutes in Lhasa, Xigaze and Shannan, said Hu, adding that they are better preserved than others that remained in India where many decayed in the hot, humid climate or were lost in wars.
Hu said Tibetan researchers will carry out a thorough survey of all the scriptures written on pattra tree leaves. “Some of the pieces are in the hands of private collectors and smaller monasteries and remain undocumented,“ said Hu.
They will also make photocopies of all the documents to facilitate their study by Sanskrit specialists, he said.