Good Bye Kang !

In the last days of university semester we must complete and close our projects, so I went to Kang village for the last time to check my plans. I miss its kind people, happy Childs and those stony stairs between the alleys.
Good Bye Kang! I never forget you.
Soon I'll start a new project for a new semester…

"R" for Red

Wind Power Plant

Binalood, Khorasan province

Gonbad Sabz or The Green Dome

Location : Mashhad- Gonbad sabz Square

Sorry my friends for delay to update this blog. I am so busy with my projects these days.The exam season is coming as well.

Sky Watch : A Door to the Sky

Last night and night of Yalda

Shab-e Yalda or Shab-e Chelleh is an Iranian festival originally celebrated on the Northern Hemisphere's longest night of the year, that is, on the eve of the Winter Solstice.
The 13Th century one of our great poet Sa'di wrote in his Bustan: "The true morning will not come, until the Yalda Night is gone". Following the Iranian calendar reform of 1925, which pegged some seasonal events to specific days of the calendar, Yalda came to be celebrated on the night before and including the first day of the tenth month (Dey). Subject to seasonal drift, this day may sometimes fall a day before or a day after the actual Winter Solstice.
Following the fall of the Sassanid Empire and the subsequent rise of Islam, the religious significance of the event was lost, and Yalda became a social occasion when family and close friends would get together. Nonetheless, the obligatory serving of fresh fruit during mid-winter is reminiscent of the ancient customs of invoking the divinities to request protection of the winter crop.
Today; Families continue to hold traditional gatherings on Yalda. Iranian radio and television offer special programmes on that night of Yalda.Watermelons, nuts, fresh fruits like pomegranate,orange and etc are placed on the Korsi, a traditional piece of furniture similar to a very short table, around which the family sit on the ground. On it, a blanket made of wool filling is thrown, people leave their legs under the blanket. Inside the korsi, heat is generated by means of coal, electricity or gas heaters.Grand parents tell old stories for their childs and grandchids and read Hafez’s poems.
It is also a custom that grooms give a gift to their brride and they celebrate this night before starting their new life together.

Text is written according to WikiPedia

Yalda means life is as much short as we must celebrate for just one minute more being together.Happy Yalda!

In depth of Persian Gulf II

A dreamy sense!

Ebrahim was picking up some marine cucumber :D



Diving is finished.Good Job Ebrahim!
Thank you for photos!

In depth of Persian Gulf I

These photos are taken by my aunt's husband “Ebrahim” who is a marine biologist and a professional diver.When I saw them I really wondered that how mysterious is the under water's world and how much beautiful the Persian Gulf is!

Ebrahim

I will post more photos tomorrow.Just come back to see!

Torghabeh

Torghabeh is a town near the city of Mashhad. Here is the first square one may see when enters the town from Mashhad and below is a snowy scene on the way to Torghabe.

It is Snowing!

University,Today morning

Hooooooooray!

The first snow of Mashhad since today morning. Thanks God!

Sky Watch : Sky Of The Fall's Last Days

Villager woman

While I was walking in the Kang alleys,I found that the local people are so different with other villages’s people.The reason may be is the long distance between Kang and the city.They are not happy people although they are so kind.The other reason would be the bad economic gesture of the village.
The woman in my today’s photo kept a hen in a strange way. Just see !

Mr. Haj Malek

Almost everyone in Mashhad knows who Mr. Haj Malek is. Before I posted a photo of his house. A large boulevard in Mashhad is also named after him. And now this is his sculpture in his donated garden. He was one of the wealthiest people in Mashhad around 50 years ago. His donations to public are still being used, such as Malek Abad Garden and Vakil Abad Park. Thank you Haj Malek!

The 200Th Post's Celebration

On April 22 at 5:52 pm Mashhad photo daily blog was born. You know that it was created by Meead and after his migration to the US, I continue it instead of him. He made me familiar with the members of DPB group and now I have many friends around the world. As well as he introduce our city Mashhad and our country Iran to the people who may even hear nothing about it before or their information was wrong. Now, I am sure there are many people who know Iran as real it is and not like the way that some Medias show. Thank you Meead for all these!
And today’s post is the 200Th post of Mashhad photo daily blog. Thank you all my friends for your visits and comments since the first day till now. Specially thanks to Jilly from Menton daily photo who took the first comment in this blog. Also thanks to USElaine, Dina, Petrea, Dan, Babooshka, Webradio and all of you that supported this blog with your opinions.
I hope to keep Mashhad Photo Daily Blog always alive and interesting. Do not forget to come here again! I look forward to your comments.
Now have a slice of cake ;)

Eid-e-Ghorban

Four thousand years ago the valley of Mecca was a dry and uninhabited place. Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was instructed to bring his wife's servant, Hagar (Hajar) and their child Ishmael to Arabia from Palestine by Allah's command, as his first wife Sarah started to get jealous after Hagar got her baby.
With some supplies of food and water he left them without wanting, his wife Hagar asked him: "Who ordered you to leave us here", Ibrahim replied :"Allah", she said: "than Allah will not forget us, you can go". However the supplies quickly ran out and within a few days Hagar and Ishmael were suffering from hunger and dehydration.
In her desperation Hagar ran up and down two hills called Safa and Marwa trying to see if she could spot any help in the distance. Finally she collapsed beside her baby Ishmael and prayed to Allah for deliverance.
Ishmael struck his foot on the ground and this caused a spring of water to gush forth from the earth. Hagar and Ishmael were saved. Now they had a secure water supply they were able to trade water with passing nomads for food and supplies.
After a while the Prophet Ibrahim returned from Palestine to check on his family and he was amazed to see them running a profitable well.
The Prophet Ibrahim was told by Allah to build a shrine dedicated to him. Ibrahim and Ismael constructed a small stone structure – the Kabe - which was to be the gathering place for all who wished to strengthen their faith in Allah.
As the years passed Ishmael was blessed with Prophet hood and he gave the nomads of the desert the message of surrender to Allah.After many centuries, Mecca became a thriving city thanks to its reliable water source, the well of Zam Zam.
In the year 628 the Prophet Muhammad set out on a journey with 1400 of his followers. This was the first pilgrimage in Islam, and would re-establish the religious traditions of the Prophet Ibrahim.
Eid-e-Ghorban or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims worldwide in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God. The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey God and spare his son. As Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, God intervened and instead provided a lamb as the sacrifice. This is why today all over the world Muslims who have the means to, sacrifice an animal (usually a goat or a sheep), as a reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to God. The meat is then shared out with family, friends (Muslims or non-Muslims), as well as the poor members of the community.
I took some photos from a Sacrificing place in Mashhad for Eid-e-Ghorban. Every year, my dad buys a sheep, and then we sacrifice and distribute it between poor people.

A place of Sacrificing in Mashhad

Dad selected a sheep to Sacrifice

Flayers are dividing meats

* The Arabic sentence at top of the photo says: When an orphan (a child without living parents) cries, the Throne of the God shakes! Erase the tears from his/her face kindly!

Happy Eid-e-Ghorban to all Muslims!

Hajj Time

These days are the holy time of Hajj.You may watch some related TV programs on Islamic channels about it in this time .To remember of this holy time,I put a photo that I took in my last travel to Mecca few month ago.Yesterday,they changed the black cover of “Kabeh”.

Baby Ad, Traffic Camera and the Police Cabin

Stairwell

Stairwell is always my favorite tool. I like everything which can make me close to the sky! Like this one.

An Innocent Face

"H" for Hand

Weekend in the Kang Village

Last Friday,We went to Kang village for our project. As you see, we were a group of Architecture students from Azad university.Nice and memorable picnic we had :)

The unique architecture of the village

We had some hot soup after walking in the village

My classmates,Boys and Girls

And This is me!

12+1

Do you believe in 12+1?

A nervous face

He understood that I want to take a photo, so he started to show me his teeth !!

And I really scared!

Let's watch accurately!

See my today's shot!

This is just one of God's creature.You know that he is an "Architect", even more skillful than me :)

The last leaf

Just one leaf was left on the tree.
The tree said: I look forward to you my friend.
Leaf said: So bye till the spring!
The spring came back but the tree had forgotten about his friend among all those green leafs.

Ink & Water

I miss my earlier drawings when I was the first year student of university. Nice old days that I used to draw with ink & water.
To remember of that time, Today I draw this picture. I do not like to think that I may loos some of my skills in water color drawing!
It is not finished yet. Let me to complete it!

Mysterious Rhythm

A mysterious rythm among these pots attracted me to take this shot!

Around Iran # 5 : Abyaneh Village

Abyaneh is one of the well known villages in Esfahan province, in addition to which it boasts of a pleasant climate. The same is located in the northwestern slopes of the Karkas Mountains and at a distance of 28 km. from the city of Natanz. The architectural facet in this village along with the rituals and apparel of its inhabitants is a sight to witness. The Jame' mosque of this vicinity with its historical wooden altar dating to 776 AH, and its wooden pulpit dating to 466 AH. and an inscription in the 'kufi' script is greatly valued both as a historical and religious monument.

Sunshade or "Saabaat" in Farsi

Women in the traditional clothes

Money isn't everything. See how cultures measure wealth!

For more information about Iranians tourist attractions, I strongly recommend you to visit the ITT website!

Photograph Exhibition

Since few days ago, we have started a photograph exhibition in our university. I told you before that I want to take apart in this competition and exposition so I gave some of my photos and fortunately 3 of them are sent for the final judgment J
Saturday will be the last day of this exhibition and the winner will be selected. I am not sure if I will win or not, something is important for me is that I could take apart in this exhibition and I could share my photos. As well as I could knew more about others's eyes and subjects in photography.

The most impressive photo that I saw there which is taken by Mr.Sharif Hoseini

One of my photos is on this sheet! You have seen it before on the blog.Can you find it?!

Mashhad's Book Exhibition

The place of all Mashhad's exhibitions (Photo by : fair news)

In the CARICATURE salon!


All type of people in the exhibition

NO LEGEND!


Again in the caricature salon

This week is the week of Book and Reading Book in Iran.During this time,Iranians try to buy and read books more and improve the culture of reading it. So every year we have many book exhibitions and festivals in all cities of Iran for adults, masters, students and kids.
The 8Th Mashhad's Book exhibition has been started, too. Over 800 publishers with 50000 book's title are present in this big exhibition.I visited there yesterday afternoon and took some photos from different parts of the exhibition.