The Pomegranate Festival

From ancient times until today, ceremonies related to the harvest of cultivated products have existed. The pomegranate festival and pomegranate picking are among the oldest traditions still celebrated by the people living in areas where pomegranates grow, although significant changes have been made in the methods of harvesting pomegranates. The pomegranate festival is held in mid-autumn, attracting many tourists from all over Iran to celebrate this fruit. The festival takes place simultaneously with the abundant harvest in the beautiful, historic, and remote villages with a history of about three and a half thousand years, and also in the ninety rural mountainous villages, almost untouched and traditional, during mid-autumn days. Although pomegranates are famous in other provinces of Iran, especially the renowned pomegranate of Saveh (located in the Central Province), this festival is held annually in the village of Anbouh. Anbouh village, a historical village with climatic diversity in different seasons, is one of the villages covered by the tourism development plan. It has many tourist attractions such as staircase houses built with indigenous materials in the area (hence called Masouleh second), located in a geographical dead-end (thus not easily accessible), ethnography, historical attractions, agricultural and livestock products, handicrafts, and special pomegranate ceremonies, known for its sweet, large, and juicy pomegranates, abundantly available in this region. The pomegranate festival is one of the most important and oldest local festivals that, alongside the natural beauty of the region, reflects the customs and traditions of pomegranate cultivation and cultivation. This activity begins with a special ceremony on the last Friday of Mehr month (the seventh month of the Persian calendar and the first month of autumn) with the call of “Ya Allah” (Oh God) by Pakar Karpi (introduction of gardeners to guard pomegranate orchards for one year). After gathering and prayer, the ceremony begins with traditional music (playing Daf, Sorna, and Dohol), local games and competitions, and baking local bread and sweets. Then, people enter the orchard and start picking pomegranates. The people of this region believe that the pomegranate is a heavenly fruit and a symbol of beauty. Therefore, in respect for the traditions and efforts to preserve them, they believe that no one is allowed to enter the pomegranate orchard and pick their pomegranates before this day (from mid-Shahrivar to late Mehr). If someone picks the pomegranates before this day, they will face the anger and punishment of the locals. On this day, all the villagers, even those who have migrated from the village, come to help the region and pick pomegranates, celebrating with others. Women and girls in the village wear beautiful and colorful local costumes and accompany men to pick pomegranates from the trees until sunset. In addition to harvesting the fruits of their orchard, gardeners also represent the stages of irrigation, making pomegranate paste, and other fruit products. People and visitors who have come to this area to watch the pomegranate festival purchase some of the collected pomegranates and buy most of the products that are sold in the city.