National Day of Hafez Shirazi celebrated online

Hafez Day in Iran was celebrated online from his tomb on Saturday evening observing coronavirus-related restrictions.

To commemorate Shams al-Din Mohammad Hafez-e Shirazi, better known as 'Hafez', the 14th-century lyric poet of Persian classical literature, several officials made speeches in the online ceremony with a focus on love and peace, the themes of Hafez poetry.  

The representative of the Supreme Leader in Fars Province and Imam of Friday prayers of Shiraz Ayatollah Lotfollah Dejkam said in the commemoration ceremony that, “Today, the world looks at Hafez as an artist whose deep insight put forth a dynamic interpretation of the world.”

Saying that Hafez’s understating of the world is rooted in the Holy Quran, Ayatollah Dejkam emphasized that the world needs Hafez.

Reciting a poem from Hafez, he also added that, “Love is the reason of creation and the entire world is a mirror to reflect God.”  

Mayor of Shiraz Heydar Eskandarpour joined Ayatollah Dejkam and made his remarks, saying that, “Today’s complex bellicose world needs Hafez’s wisdom more than ever. He can help soothe pains.”

Pointing to the ambiguity and wordplay that make Hafez’ poems multilayer, Governor of Fars Province Enayatollah Rahimi also said that the modern world more than ever needs the concepts Hafez talks about: love, tolerance, mercy, mysticism, hope, ethics, humanity, and optimism.

The spread of COVID-19 virus made the ceremony be held online. The ceremony to commemorate Hafez is held every year on Mehr 20 which fell on October 11 this year. 

MM/FM