Iran commemorates National Poetry Day, Persian poet Shahriar

Iran has commemorated the famous Persian poet Shahriar on the National Poetry Day, this Tuesday.

Traditional singer, and Santur as well as Setar (two classic Iranian musical instruments) player Hessameddin Seraj presented a live performance on Tuesday morning.

Planned as one of the events to honor the day and Shahriar throughout the country and being held in Tabriz, capital of East Azarbaijan Province, the performance was organized by the provincial office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to mark Persian Poetry and Literature National Day (September 18).

On the Iranian calendar, the occasion coincides with the death anniversary of Persian poet Seyyed Mohammad-Hossein Behjat-Tabrizi (1906-1988), better known by his pen name Shahriar. The Iranian nation commemorates Shahriar every year on the same day.

Seraj’s performance and a number of other cultural programs were held at Maqbaratoshoara (meaning mausoleum of poets) where Shahriar is buried near the tombs of some other notable poets, artists and mystics.

The first poet buried there was the prominent ancient Iranian linguist Asadi Tousi (999-1072), author of Garshaspnameh (Garshaspnama), who died in Tabriz.

The ceremony was attended by a number of Iranian poets and literary scholars as well as Persian literature enthusiasts.

Shahriar lived in the three eras of Qajars, Pahlavi, and the Islamic Republic. A more profound look into his poetry reveals his objection to injustice and narrow-mindedness.

He supported his people at critical times such as the 1980-1988 Iraq-Iran war when he reinforced the morale of Iranian soldiers through his poems.

MG/MF