Blog's Break

This a kind of rose flower in our yard. In Persian, this is called Jamileh, I do not know about its English name

For my next giving project, I need 1 week free time to finish it. I'll come back soon friends ;)

Wedding Car

At the behind of a rainy window

Qaem square- Mashhad

Guys, please forgive me for my delay to updating the blog. These days I am more busy than before. University works does not allow me to update the blog regularly.

Spring Flowers

These days Mashhad is more beautiful with the spring flowers. They are in every streets, squares and boulevards of the city.

Rainy Days

In my university, yesterday afternoon

This week we had a rainy weather here in Mashhad. Thanks God !

Happy New Year !

Haft Sîn or the seven 'S's is a major tradition of Nowruz, the traditional Iranian new year. It has a complex history and there are indication referring to Kayanids mentioning that (šahd, šir, šarāb, šikkar-e nāb, šamʿ, šamšād, šāya”) literally (honey, milk, wine, pure sugar, a candle, branches of box-tree, and fruits) has been the seven S's on the Nowruz table. Today the haft sin table includes seven items specifically starting with the letter S or Sîn (س in the Persian alphabet). The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. Originally called Haft Chin, the Haft Sin has evolved over time, but has kept its symbolism. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sîn table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Nowruzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.

This is the 7 sin table that I set.

The Haft Sin items are:

sîb (سیب)- apples - symbolizing beauty and health

sabzeh(سبزه) - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth

lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)

samanu (سمنو)- a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence (The glass on the left)

senjed (سنجد)- the dried fruit of the ole aster tree - symbolizing love (The glass on the right)

Rose water for its magical cleansing powers (in that red rose-water bottle at middle)

sîr (سیر)- garlic - symbolizing medicine

The Holy Quran for Muslims

A mirror and decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility)

I decorated and painted all eggs myself ;)

serkeh (سرکه)- vinegar - symbolizing age and patience

sekkeh (سکه)- coins (prosperity and wealth)

Divan of Hafez ( Hafez's poems book)

A glass with red and gold fish (life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving)

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In 4 hours, the New Year will be started. Yes, again we finished 1 year of our life with a complex of happy and sad times. Since I remember, it was a question for me that why God has created us? I ask myself this question at the end of per year and I am sorry that I do not have any answers yet.
For the New Year, I wish No War, No tears, No sad happening in the entire world. I hope all kind wishes come in true. Happy New Year!

Let's pray for a peace full World!

My dear friends, I am going to travel to Tehran tomorrow with a turned off cell phone and a closed lap top. With any lesson to study, any project to do. I am so tired and want to be a little relaxed. I'll update the blog on 27TH of March with many photos from other parts of Iran.

The Last Week of Year II

Last night was the traditional Persian celebration; Chahar-shanbe Suri. This is a unique and old celebration that Iranians have at the night last Wednesday of year. This custom was available in ancient Iran (Persia) and nowadays it is still alive. Since we were yet busy with our spring-cleaning yesterday and the last night of Mashhad was too cold and rainy, I stayed at home and could not take any photo from Chahar-shanbe Suri. If you like to know about this tradition please follow the link above.

Now Let's see the series II of my photos from The Last Week of Year!

The Last Week of Year I

We have just 3 days to finish the year 1387. Every things show us the spring. I can feel the smell of flowers well. People are busy with their shopping these days as they seem so happy and hopeful with all their life's difficulties. A week before Nowruz we have "Beneficence Celebration". Iran's government builds many stations in streets to collect people's charities for poor families. This is the best way that we can divide all our joys with others.
Today morning, I went out with my mom to shop since 8:00 Am and it was so enjoyable to take photo for me. I always loved the last week of the year, the lovely city of the last week is a different one and I am sure that such city is just in IRAN. I wish you could be here and feel the smell of LOVE and PEACE here.

Sabzeh , one of 7 sin 's (or 7 "S") Elements - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth

Different types of Sabzeh and flower for 7 sin table

Sonbol- the fragrant hyacinth flower , another elements of 7 sin that symbolizing the coming of spring

In the confectionery, people buy their favorite sweet such as traditional Iranian pastries like baghlava for new year and their gusts (this is a custom that people have gathering parties with their relatives in the new year). The number 88 shows the year 1388.

I could see the 7 sin sets in all sores today, like this antique one

Municipality tries to clean all parts of the city and paint the equipments

In the traditional way, Iranians have roast fish with steamed rice & vegetables for the first dinner of New Year

And we bought fish & fresh vegetables, too.

I will post more photos on my next update. I offer you do not miss my these days post ;)

Cauliflowers

I do not know the name of these flowers. Since they are like Cauliflower, I took this name for it at the title. They are very beautiful, aren't they?

By the way, IRAN in pictures is the name of Mr. Navid Chiniforoush 's photo blog. I offer you to visit it if you are intrested to see the other part of Iran.

Around Iran # 6 : Eram Garden

Eram Garden or Garden of Paradise is a large garden with a wonderful looking palace in it that is located in Fars province-Shiraz city.This is Built in the Qajar era, the compound was used by the feudal elite and tribal leaders of Fars Province, and later used by the royalty of Iran.
The compound came under the protection of Pahlavi University during the Pahlavi era, and was used as the College of Law.
It is today still a property of Shiraz University, and is open to the public as a museum, protected by Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization.

(Text from Wikipedia)

Green...even at winter

I took this photo in the glasshouse of Mellat (National) Park in Mashhad.

Love Winter

There is a strong love between me and winter.It may because I was born in a snowy day :)

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!

Red Roses

I picked these flowers from the yard of our house.They are so beautiful!

Cold weather is coming!

Today,when I looked to the yard from the window of my room, I got a strange feeling! That was not something new.I have experienced it many times when the weather is foggy and cloudy.Flowers seem so silent and quite.What a gloomy day is today!

The Flower Pots

Friday in the Park

Today,I and my family went to the Mellat Park.I could take many photos while we were walking there.These pictures are some of them.

A nice little girl with her toy car.She looks cute! and seems so happy!

A nice colored flower that I do not know its name!

I like this one.I took it in the glasshouse of the park.

And I noticed to the sky,too.It looks silver today!

Some people preferred to be on the lake.Like those women you see here and the family on the right of the photo.

And some people interested in walking and watching! like my Family!

Yes, you can see my mom,dad and my only brother Behrooz .We had a nice Friday in the Park!

The Flowers & Bee

The Rose Flower

Yesterday, while I was watering the trees and flowers in our yard,I saw this beautiful Rose flower between all plants there.It is like the sun!

By the way, If you like to be informed for my updates,Please subscribe to the blog.I attached its element to the blog.

Bush of Grape

We have a small garden in our apartment's yard. Yesterday I visited Dim's photoblog of McKinney, Texas and saw a photo of a vineyard in one of his recent posts and I thought of taking photo of our samll vineyard. We have a big bush of grape in our small garden.