The Achaemenid heritage will host the Yalda Night (Chelleh Night) celebration

The Director of the Pasargadae World Heritage Site stated on Saturday, Azar 29, in a meeting with journalists, that the Yalda Night celebration, held on the occasion of Chelleh Night and coinciding with the fourth anniversary of Yalda Night’s global registration, will take place near the Tomb of Cyrus the Great. He added that the program is being organized in cooperation with the Pasargadae World Heritage Site, the Pasargadae Cultural Heritage Office, the Governor’s Office, the District Office, the Municipality, the Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Pasargadae IRGC unit, the local rural council, and several eco-lodges, and will feature Shahnameh recitation, music, and Hafez poetry readings.

Mohammad Nasiri Haghighat explained that the Yalda Night ceremony in Pasargadae will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Zolqarnein Hall of Pasargadae Municipality, noting that the event is open to all interested participants.

Meanwhile, the Acting Director of the Persepolis World Heritage Site announced the holding of a Yalda Night celebration titled “Chelleh Festival in Parseh” at the Persepolis World Heritage Complex. He said the event aims to honor ancient Iranian traditions and to link intangible cultural heritage with world heritage, and will be held at the light and sound venue of the Persepolis platform.

Referring to the importance of Yalda Night as one of the oldest cultural traditions of Iranians, Mohammad Javad Jafari stated that the Chelleh Festival symbolizes solidarity, hope, and the triumph of light over darkness. He added that holding the event at a historic site such as Persepolis can help better introduce Iran’s cultural values to younger generations and visitors.

He noted that the program will be held on the occasion of Chelleh Night and simultaneously with the fourth anniversary of Yalda Night’s global registration, on Sunday morning, Azar 30, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and that attendance is open to the public. He emphasized that organizing such cultural events within conservation guidelines plays an effective role in keeping Iranian traditions alive and increasing public engagement with the country’s cultural heritage.

The Head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department of Shiraz also highlighted the importance of Yalda Night and its place within the city’s historic fabric, stating that Shiraz will host a global Yalda Night commemoration featuring live narratives from the historic urban fabric. This cultural gathering will be held on Sunday, Azar 30, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the historic Nasir al-Molk House.

Hajar Askari added that this year’s Yalda Night ceremony will be different from previous years and will include storytelling about Yalda traditions and customs in Shiraz—a night dedicated to listening, narrating, and remembering what has been passed down from the heart of the city.

Describing Shiraz as a city of stories whose nights are illuminated by tales, she said the event provides an opportunity for residents and cultural heritage enthusiasts to come together and experience the longest night of the year in a unique way.

She further explained that the ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of Yalda Night’s registration as an intangible world heritage will be held with the participation of residents of the historic district, featuring Shahnameh recitation, Hafez poetry readings, and narratives that still resonate within the city’s walls, offering a rich cultural and artistic experience for all attendees.

Askari also announced the establishment of a Yalda-themed exhibition and related handicrafts at Nasir al-Molk House, noting that attendees will hear stories about the role of women in preserving Yalda traditions, childhood memories of Yalda Night, and old neighborhood customs associated with the occasion.

She concluded by stating that the event will take place on Azar 30 at the historic Nasir al-Molk House, with the presence of officials, cultural and artistic figures, and storytellers from Shiraz and Fars Province. This gathering serves as an opportunity to preserve and promote the intangible heritage of Yalda Night and to encourage the culture of storytelling within the historic fabric of the city./ Isna