- 15 March 2010
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- 8 Comments
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- Culture, Events in Iran, Human Rights in Iran
Yeah, not so much…. Nice try though.
15 March 2010 Posted By NIAC
The Supreme Leader on Sunday called for Iranians to shun Chaharshanbeh Souri, deeming it “void of religious roots and cause of great harm and corruption.” Chaharshanbeh Souri takes place on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year (tomorrow night), preceding Norooz and Saleh Tahveel (the Spring Equinox marking the New Year). More from Radio Zamaneh via Payvand News:
This fire festival… is an ancient Iranian pagan festival which involves the building of bonfires and symbolic gestures and chants that summon the fire to burn all sickness and lend its energy to a healthy new year.
A number of Shiite clerics have described the event “superstitious” and called for its dismantlement.
Iranian opposition forces have announced that they will take part in the events of the last Wednesday Eve of the year, which falls on March 16, and use it as an opportunity to reaffirm their protests against the current government which they claim has come to power through election fraud last June.
And from AFP via Yahoo! News:
Iranians celebrate the fire festival by lighting bonfires in public places on the night before the last Wednesday and leaping over the flames shouting “Sorkhiye to az man, Zardiye man az to (Give me your redness and I will give you my paleness).”
Some clerics see the ritual as heretical fire worshipping, although it has been marked in Iran for centuries and, like the Persian New Year itself and some other ancient rituals, has survived the advent of Islam.
For thousands of years Iranians have celebrated these holidays through thick and thin. No matter what culture or religion was thrust upon them by foreign invaders, they maintained their New Year festivals. Even those in the Diaspora have continued the celebrations abroad.
They’re not going to stop now.
8 Responses to “Yeah, not so much…. Nice try though.”
To a certain extent, this is a public safety issue.
Keep in mind, Khamenei and other authorities usually make similar appeals toward not engaging in the bloody, masochistic rituals of Ashura, and that’s a Shia related observance.
A very rough comparison can be made to US Fourth of July festivities, where in many areas personal fireworks are illegal based on safety concerns. But even so, an illegal firework trade persists, and come nighttime you can still hear it (and illegal gunfire) going on, on just about every neighborhood street.
In the Iranian sense, where the activity is officially discouraged; in the American sense, it is actually illegal.
The dictator speaks, the sheep (& Pirouz) follow.
It will be quite interesting to see how defenders of the Islamic Republic, such as Pirouz, will defend this blatant assault on the Persian culture. This is not new. Unfortunately, the religious theocracy in Iran, and especially those who have recently grabbed power from the people, have little respect for our culture and our heritage, believing instead that Islamic traditions are more important that our pre-Islamic traditions.
My guess, they’ll ignore it, or make up a new more convenient understanding for the dictator’s comments that sits better with their conscience.
Clearly the supreme leader is anti-Iran.
Stop with the childish “whatever religion was thrust upon them” rhetoric. You not only show an ignorance of history, but you alienate yourself from the vast, vast majority of Iranians who view the coming of Islam to Iran as one of the country’s greatest moments. Khamenei’s idiocy can be countered without resorting to the same level.
Please, can we call him the dictator? It’s honestly funny at this point to see Pirouz parallel EVERYTHING bad about the regime to America. The difference, however, is that leaders in America don’t discourage ANYONE from celebrating July 4th. It is openly celebrated, and just in the states where fireworks are illegal, professionals must be hired to put on fireworks displays. As usual for you Pirouz, apples and oranges. Maybe you can blame Israel for this one??? Anyone but the dictator and his pathetic little sidekick.
And it looks like the answer is…
“make up a new more convenient understanding for the dictator’s comments that sits better with their conscience.”
Really Pirouz? Public safety issue? If Khamenei was so concerned with “public safety” he wouldn’t have unleashed the mozdoor baseej and revolutionary guards on Iranians peacefully demonstrating in the streets; he wouldn’t have condoned the beating of women and the rape and torture of women and men in prisons; he wouldn’t have presided over a morally bankrupt government that hangs young people instead of rehabilitating them. I think Khamenei and Ahmadinejad are a threat to public safety not chaharshanbeh soori.