Mashhad Photo Daily Blog's first Guests

Aysegul, Sarah, Aysegul's friend

Tonight- Almas-e-Shargh shopping Center

Tonight was an interesting night for me. To visit a very kind and nice friend from Turkey that is now our guest in Mashhad. Aysegul and her friend have came to Iran for trip. They are going to visit Shiraz, Yazd, Isfahan and Tehran after 2 days staying in Mashhad. It would be interesting for you to hear that we became close friends by this photo blog.
I do not know who will be my next guest?? I will be so happy to visit you a day here, as my family do.

Spring and Sweet Water Melons!

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 ;)

Hajji Firuz eh...Sali ye ruz eh!

He sings : "Haji Firuz eh....sali ye ruz eh"

Hâjji Fîrûz or Hajji Piruz, is the traditional herald of Nowruz. He is a black-faced character clad in bright red clothes and a felt hat. While ushering in Nowruz, Hajji Firuz plays a tambourine and sings "Haji Firuz eh, sali ye ruz eh" (It is Haji Firuz time, It happens one day in a year). People of all ages gather around him and his troupe of musicians and listen to them play the drum, saz or kamancheh, and dance. to know the history please click here.

Text by wikipedia

While I was watching Hajji Firuz in the street, I just thought that "how we could live with out such symbols in our culture?! " I really can not suppose the new year with no Hajji Firuz!

Wheat is sprouted !

We have 10 days to finish the solar year (1387). The spring is coming and every thing is going to be new. I do not know that how much you have heard about the Iranian's customs for New Year. Since the solar calendar is the current calendar of our country, we celebrate the New Year after finishing 12 months of a solar year.
In the last days of the year, Iranians start to clean their homes. "Khaaneh Tekaani" in Farsi or spring-cleaning in English is one of our important New Year traditions that were also available in the ancient Iran. We believe that, we should make every thing clean or even new for a New Year. To me it is the philosophy of spring, to be new and fresh, like the nature.
And about my today's title! Sprouted wheat is the one of our other customs for New Year. In my future posts, you'll be known about it and other customs like "Chaharshanbe Suri"(the last Wednesday party) ,"Nowruz", "7 sin", etc. It would be so interesting for you, specially do not forget to see the post of 20Th of March!

Nice Feelings

There are some things in the world that makes us happy. Gives us such a fun energy that we can forget our difficulties in our life for a minute or even for a second. These colorful smart candies are an example. I remember that I had a nice feeling to try them when I was a little girl. Today while I was shopping in the hyper market, found smart candies in the chocolate part and I got that feeling as well again. So I bought a big pack full of Smart Candies!
Sometimes we need to be a baby again ;)

Spaghetti Eiffel Tower

Yes, this is Eiffel Tower but not in Paris, in Mashhad ;)

I built it in my 3 days free time.

Happy Sepandar Mazgan Day !

Sepandār mazgān is the celebration day of love and earth in ancient Iranian culture. This day is dedicated to Spenta Armaiti, Spandārmad in middle Persian, the middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times (224-654 CE) became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well.
It is celebrated the 29Th of Bahman in Iranian calendar. Modern folklore dates the celebration to ancient times and Zoroastrian tradition.the original date for this ceremony is 5Th of Esfand, and a popular revised date of 29Th Bahman is due to the disorganized calendering during the past 20 years.

(Text is written according to wikipedia)

I am sorry that some Iranian people do not know anything about this event in their culture and celebrate the Valentine day (which is refer to another culture) instead of it.

Bubbles

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!

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 ;)

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!

Let's not forget about somethings !

Sometimes,when I walk in the park,I notice to old men and women who sit together and stare at some where.Most of them seem so sad and depressed.When I asked my Grand mama why they are like this? she answered : Elders expect their childes and grand childes to remember and respect them,to love them.
But nowadays we are busy with our own life.So we have forgotten that grand parents are waited for us.Yes,They miss us and we do not know it!
Now,I got why some old people seemed sad in the park.I am coming grand mama! :)

Armaghan Athletic Center

I went to take photos for my new project today morning. The building you see in the picture is "Armaghan Athletic Center" in Framarz Abbasi Blvd, near our home. A big center with many facilities for kids and adults such as; pool, gym, roller skate salons and etc. This is located beside a beautiful small Park which is named Resalat Park. Now for the project,we should design a cultural center in this site. It would be a difficult planing!

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!