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TEHRAN, Sept. 18 (Mehr News Agency) -- The
people of each region have their own customs which reveal the cultural identity
of their locality, and their traditions for the holy month of Ramadan are rooted
in their national and religious beliefs.
A woman decorates the bowls of sholleh-zard, a dessert dish
consisting of rice,
sugar, saffron, and fat, to distribute them to people to
break their fast during the
holy month of Ramadan. (photo, Tehran
Times)
For example, the two traditions of
qabakhlama and kisehduzi
are still seriously practiced in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan
Province.
Ali Falsafi, the anthropology expert
of the East Azarbaijan Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department,
told the Mehr News Agency in Tabriz that the Azari people get prepared for the
month of Ramadan several weeks in advance.
Falsafi said, “People begin to clean
their houses and sweep up the mosques so that everywhere is clean to welcome the
holy month. This tradition is called qabakhlama.
“In some regions of Azarbaijan, on
the first day of Ramadan, people go to the houses of ulema and religious figures
and congratulate them on the arrival of the holy month.
“On the second night married couples
usually go to their parents’ houses and have iftar (break their fast) there.
“Serving iftar is also a custom among
Azaris. The guests are usually invited even before the beginning of Ramadan. The
iftar spreads are also interesting and very special, and Azari women try to give
the best iftar. Soup, various kinds of rice and stew, kabob and chicken, as well
as different kinds of deserts, cookies, jam, and salad are seen on the spreads.
Dates are a must for iftar.
“But sahari (the meal before dawn) is
quite simple. People usually eat bread, cheese, butter, yogurt, and tea. Tea is
a must.”
In his book Ramadan in the Culture of
the People, Ebrahim Haqparast writes that in some of the villages of East
Azarbaijan near the cities of Shabestar, Maragheh, and Ahar, the tradition of
kisehduzi is popular.
“On the last Thursday or Friday of
Ramadan women get together and each family sews a small purse. They put some
money inside the purse, read some prayers, and then blow on the purse. Then they
place the purse in an old chest at home. The purse is called the ‘purse of
blessing’ and people believe that they will never experience poverty in the
future (due to the purse),” reads part of the book.
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