Gorgan Hosts Two Special Literary Ceremonies for Yalda; From Chaleh Mehr to Anar Poetry Night
According to the correspondent of Iran Book News Agency (IBNA) in Gorgan, Yalda night, the longest night of the year, is an ancient excuse to stay together, listen to stories, and keep the warmth of affection alive in the heart of winter; a night that, from past to present, has gained meaning through poetry reading, narration, music, pomegranates and watermelons, and gathering around home lights and social circles.
Yalda is also the night of linking words and memories; a night where poetry is read to shorten the darkness and bring hearts closer to the light of togetherness. A group of cultural and literary activists in Gorgan will keep this ancient tradition alive by holding the “Chaleh Mehr” conference and “Anar Poetry Night” gathering, featuring speeches, storytelling (naqqali), and music, intending to turn the longest night of the year into a celebration of words and affection.
On the evening of Sunday, December 13th (Azar 23), at 17:00, the “Chaleh Mehr” conference is scheduled to be held in the main hall of the Fakhreddin Asaad Gorgani Hall, through the efforts of the Scientific and Educational Association of Literature Teachers, Ferdowsi and Hafez Wisdom Center of Golestan, and in cooperation with the General Department of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Golestan.
According to the organizers of this event, which will be held free of charge and open to the public, Mehdi Khatiri, Gholamali Ghari, and Fariba Barati are the speakers for this conference, and Hafez reading, music, storytelling (naqqali), and poetry reading are among the planned programs.
Furthermore, through the efforts of the Gorgan Poetry Mondays literary association and on the eve of Chaleh night, an event titled “Anar Poetry Night” (Pomegranate Poetry Night) is planned to take place on the afternoon of Monday, December 14th (Azar 24), at 17:00 in the Gorgan Creation Center hall, featuring poets from Mazandaran, Semnan, Tehran, and Golestan, as well as a performance by the Hamnavazan Dima music group.
The organizers announced that Asadollah Ma’toufi, a renowned author and researcher from Golestan, will be a guest speaker on the topic of “Chaleh in Astarabad and Gorgan.”
Poets and authors such as Alireza Dehrooyeh, Seyyed Mohammad Hashemi, Ali Momeni, Leila Moshfegh, Mohammad Farazjoo, Ehsan Mahdian, Hamid Arab Ameri, Alireza Hekmati, Mohadeseh Hosseini, Aghil Zarook, Dariush Jelini, Bahman Neshati, Sadegh Hajatmandi, Mohadeseh Avazpour, Hamed Rezaei, Jafar Roodsarabi, Ali Khorrami, Mohammad Hasanzadeh, and Ghader Mataji from Garmsar, as well as Hamid Saeedi from Shahrood, will also read their works at this literary gathering.
