Islamabad, SAEDNEWS: Yalda night was also celebrated by Iranian culture centers in Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, and Karachi. Pakistanis in some cities of the country also consider this night as the first night of winter and celebrate the cold season by holding a traditional celebration.
Cultural Counselor of Iran in Pakistan Ehsan Khazaei congratulated the people of the two neighboring countries on the arrival of this night and said that holding these rituals is an opportunity to be together and spread friendships and kindness.
He also spoke about the philosophy of Yalda night and the beginning of the dominance of light over darkness.
The cultural counselor of the Iranian embassy pointed out the importance of the role of Iranians abroad in preserving and spreading Iranian and Islamic culture.
Some Iranian diplomats, a group of Iranians living in Islamabad, professors and students of Persian language and literature of NUML University attended the ceremony.
Faramarz Rahmanzad, the new director of Iranian Culture Center in Rawalpindi, highlighted the importance of Yalda night in Iranian culture.
Last night, a ceremony of diplomats and officials of Iranian institutions with their family members to observe Yalda was held in cooperation with the embassy of Iran and Imam Hussein (AS) Educational Institute at the Iranian residential complex in Islamabad.
The students of Imam Hussein (AS) Educational Institute performed the anthem of Yalda night and recited poetic verses.
Yalda night rituals are held in different parts of the northern Pakistani province of Gilgit-Baltistan, known as the "Mah Feng" festival, and at the same time some cities in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also witnessing traditional winter festivities.
Observance of Yalda night by Iranians dates back to some 7,000 years ago. "Shab-e Yalda” or “Shab-e Chelleh” has been the night of the victory of light over darkness and a symbol of equality among Iranians
It is the time when family members get together to celebrate the winter solstice. At the ceremony, people eat various kinds of foods, ranging from watermelon and pomegranate to nuts and sweets (Source: IRNA).
Modernization in Literary Culture
