Preparing for Norouz

Preparations for Norouz begin with a major khane-tekani (spring cleaning) of the house, the purchase of new clothes for the Iranian New Year (starting March 21) and the purchase of flowers, particularly hyacinth and tulip.
Khane-tekani is an Iranian tradition of cleaning the house before the onset of spring and part of the annual Norouz festival, Tarikhema.ir reported.
Stemming from the Zoroastrians’ idea of purifying one’s home and its surroundings for keeping evil away, it usually involves cleaning the walls, cupboards, yard and attic, as well as washing carpets and curtains.
Symbolically, khane-tekani signals to the spirits of their ancestors that their kin are ready to entertain them. They are invited to descend on their homes to help them nourish the growth of sabzeh, the green sprouts--the main source of their sustenance depleted during the long winter.

Shopping
After placing the soaked grains in a damp cloth to sprout and cleaning the house, it’s time for Norouz shopping.
It’s basically a family affair where everyone must be outfitted with new clothes, shoes and the like. In addition, the shopping may include items required for Sofreh Norouz (the table set on the eve of Norouz), including sweets, fruits, nuts and candles.
The must-have seven items beginning with the Persian letter ‘S’ are Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), Samanoo (a traditional porridge made of wheat sprouts), Senjed (jujube), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), Sumac and Serkeh (vinegar).
Since women bake various sweet breads and special dishes such as Sabzi Pilau (rice cooked with fragrant herbs) and fish for lunch on the first day of Norouz holidays, shopping must ensure that all the required ingredients have also been bought.
At the end, a trip must be made to the bank for acquiring shiny, new coins and crisp, fresh banknotes given as eydi (gift) by the elderly to the young ones and also kept on Sofreh Norouz.

Haji Firouz
The month during which Norouz celebrations are held is a special occasion in the life of the community. In ancient times, this aspect was so distinguished that the mayors of towns were literally displaced by the most prominent and victorious person in carrying out the commands of God.
This victorious (pirouz) khwaja or lord was given the rule of the realm during this period. As part of his duties, Khwaja Pirouz saw to it that all the people were provided with amenities and satisfaction. In time, especially after the fall of Iran to the Arabs who would not relinquish rule to the defeated foes, the office of Khwaja Pirouz has transformed into an Arabized form and the person is known as Haji Firouz.
From the initial complex set of social affairs, Haji Pirouz only performs the duty of stimulating laughter and providing entertainment on the streets in the company of musicians.
Known as the traditional announcer of the approaching Noruz, Haji Pirouz is a black-faced man clad in bright red clothes and a felt hat. He plays a tambourine and sings, “Haji firouze, sali ye rouze.” (It is Haji Firouz time. It happens one day a year!).
People of all ages gather around him and his musicians, and listen to them play the drum, saz or kamancheh and dance. Those who are impressed with the troupe’s performance, shower it with money.

Dinner and Gifts
Customs related to Norouz stipulates that the dinner for the Thursday before Norouz must include rice pilau and chicken. Fulfilling this ritual ensures that there will be a similar dinner at least once a week during the coming year.
The young visit their parents and elder relatives as a sign of respect. These visits may include exchange of gifts. Exchange of gifts, however, should not be confused with eydi (New Year gift), which can take a number of forms depending on circumstances.
Within the family, the head of the household may give either coins or new banknotes of certain value to the members of his family or to visitors as eydi.
Refraining from such a visit is usually interpreted as a sign of deep-rooted hostility or grudge on the part of a young family member.
In fact, all aspects of Norouz are imbued with symbolism and values that nourish the personal and social lives of people.

Handicraft Trade Prospects Improve

Iran Investment Company for Development of Handicrafts has been established to boost handicrafts trade.
Speaking at a seminar held by the company recently, Ahmad Balan, an official with Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said the company can be involved in all handicraft trade services, contracting, consultancy and organizational works, CHTN wrote.
“The company can also create production, distribution, exports and imports chains, set up a databank and organize subsidiary companies,” he said.
It is also in charge of launching a handicraft website at the domestic and international levels.
Commenting on the company’s minor duties, Balan said that it can set up economic, financial, insurance and leasing institutes.
The company can also establish a center for exporting handicrafts and prepare the infrastructures for exports. Other minor duties of the company are to give loans to subsidiary companies, use the funds of banks, insurance companies, credit cooperatives, financial institutes and attract domestic and foreign investment.
Iran’s handicraft exports reached $106 million during the first eight months of the current Iranian year (started March 21).
The export of handmade goods to other countries has grown sixfold from March to November compared with the corresponding figure of last year. The jump in exports shows an increased appreciation of Iranian handcrafts across the world.
About 5.2 million people work in 250 fields of the handicraft industry.
The government plans to increase the industry’s share in gross domestic product to 6 percent from the current 3 percent.
Experts say the beauty of handmade goods produced in Iran and accessibility of raw materials are among the sector’s attractions.
The appetite of European and American collectors for Iranian handicrafts is also another factor.
Inlaid work, kilim and carpets constitute the largest component of handicraft exports from Iran.

Archeology Excavations in Caspian Sea

Golestan’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department has carried out archeological excavations under the Caspian Sea.
Hamid Omrani Rakavandi, the deputy head of the department, told CHTN that the archeologists dived under Caspian Sea waters and discovered parts of Tamisheh Wall, which is a part of Gorgan’s historic wall.
Rakavandi said the fifth phase of archeological survey of Gorgan Wall and Tamisheh in Kordkoy, Gonbad-e Kavous, Caspian Sea and underwater archeological excavations resulted in the discovery of parts of Tamisheh Wall and castles of Daland, Gook, Pol-e Gonbad and Kalaleh. He said the demarcation of Gonbad-e Qaboos and Qaleh Khandan in Gorgan to study their architectural structures and layers, and archeological studies in Minoodasht, Gorgan and Kalaleh are other activities carried out during the current Iranian year (started March 2009).
Gorgan Wall, which is one of the most important historical monuments in Golestan province, extends for 200 kilometers.

Chabahar Tourism Promotion Planned

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Chabahar tourism has been signed among the policymakers of Chabahar Free Trade Zone in late February.
The measure will help materialize sustainable management of Chabahar Free Trade Zone’s tourism and ecotourism, CHTN wrote.
According to Chabahar’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department, the MoU was signed among the department, Chabahar Governor’s Office and Chabahar Free Trade Zone Organization.
The ratifications revolve around studying the Chabahar-Gwatr tourism route, expanding Chabahar tourism from west to Kenarak’s Gelfeshan and from east to Guatr, setting up and publicizing ecotourism centers, including geotourism and marine tourism, and registering miniature mountains as a geopark.
Chabahar is a seaport in southeastern Iran and near the coastal area of Oman Sea. It enjoys a prominent position regarding access to free waters, in addition to other aspects such as trade, commerce and navigation.

London Exhibition Explores Muslim Heritage

London’s Science Museum has mounted an exhibition about the scientific heritage of the Muslim world since the 7th century.
“1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World,” which will run until April 25, features social, scientific and technical achievements of the Muslim world as well as the shared scientific heritage of other cultures, Presstv reported.
“The thousand-year period from the 7th century onwards was a time of exceptional scientific and technological advancement in China, India, Persia, Africa and the Arab world,” Medieval News quoted Director of the Science Museum Prof. Chris Rapley as saying.
Chairman of the exhibition and Manchester University professor, Salim Al-Hassani, believes the advancements spread from the Middle East, across North Africa to southern Spain at a time when Muslim scholars and inventors were at the forefront.
“During that time, there were enormous contributions in science and technology that we have forgotten about and that comes to us from other civilizations,” he said.
“And it came to us over a very important civilization and that is the Muslim civilization.”
One of the highlights of the event is a six-meter high replica of the Elephant Clock, an early 13th-century clock designed by Al-Jazari, which combines elements from various cultures.
A 3-meter reproduction of Al-Idrisi’s 12th-century world map, model of Zheng He’s Chinese junk ship, ancient musical instruments and a model of a 9th-century dark room used by Ibn Al-Haytham are among other displayed items.

Statue Head of Pharaoh Found in Luxor

Egyptian archeologists have unearthed a colossal statue head of the pharaoh whom DNA tests revealed last week was King Tutankhamun’s grandfather, the government said on Sunday.
The red granite head of King Amenhotep III, part of a larger 3,000 year-old statue, was discovered at the site of the pharaoh’s funerary temple in Luxor, Egypt’s Culture Ministry said in a statement, AFP reported.
“The newly-discovered head is intact and measures 2.5 meters (8.2 foot) high,” antiquities chief, Zahi Hawass, was quoted as saying.
“It is a masterpiece of highly artistic quality and shows a portrait of the king with very fine youthful sculptured features,” Hawass said, adding there were still traces of red paint on the head.
“The artifact belongs to a large statue of the king standing with his hands crossed over his chest and holding the royal insignia,” said Hourig Sourouzian who headed the team of archeologists that made the find.
In recent years, a large quantity of red granite statue pieces has been uncovered at Amenhotep III’s funerary temple at Kom Al-Hitan on Luxor’s west bank.
Amenhotep III ruled Egypt between 1390 and 1352 BC.
He was almost the grandfather of Tutankhamun, according to the results of DNA tests and computerized tomography scans on the famed boy king’s mummy announced by scientists on February 17.

China, Kenya to Search For Ancient Wrecks

China and Kenya plan to search for ancient Chinese ships wrecked almost 600 years ago off Africa’s east coast.
An agreement was signed for a three-year project funded by China’s Commerce Ministry to explore waters near the popular tourist towns of Malindi and Lamu, AFP wrote.
Exploration work will be conducted for up to three months each year, with the first group of Chinese archeologists due to arrive as early as July.
The sunken ships are believed to have been part of a massive fleet led by Ming dynasty admiral Zheng He that reached Malindi in 1418. Kenyan lore has long told of shipwrecked Chinese sailors settling in the region and marrying local women.
Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He--whose name is also spelled Cheng Ho--led armadas with scores of junks and thousands of sailors on voyages to promote trade and recognition of the new dynasty, which had taken power in 1368.
Zheng’s story has been heavily promoted by China’s government in recent years as evidence of China’s tradition of nonaggression abroad, although historical records show the treasure fleets carried significant firepower and participated in at least three major military actions.

Kish Carpet Exhibit

The 4th Handmade Carpet Export Exhibition will be held on Kish Island from April 27 to 30 with the participation of 200 producers.