A pictorial report of Iranian ceremony ‘No-Usti’

ifilm English Website publishes a pictorial report of the Iranian ritual ‘No-Usti’ held in Ardabil city.

Iran with its amusing culture is an incredible country to visit. Knowing about the country and its centuries-old traditions and rituals needs a life-long plan. We have been trying to introduce some of the Nowruz-related traditions and rituals on the occasion of the Persian New Year which is concurrent with the arrival of spring.

Here you can have a glimpse of Savaraneh and Nowruz Khani rituals.

People of the Iranian city of Ardabil especially women and young girls hold ‘No-Usti’ ritual on the last Wednesday of the year.

The participants believe that their wishes come true on this day. So holding a broom, a piece of pottery and scissors, they gather near a historical bridge called Haft Cheshme in the city of Ardabil.

Murmuring prayers, participants cross the width of the river three times; then, they symbolically cut the river with the scissors or sweep it with the broom.

Afterwards, young girls break a piece of pottery that they used in the ritual of last year and carry home a new pottery filled with water. While filling the pottery, they wish for light and purity to take over.

Women of Ardabil either use the water to cook the meal of the last Wednesday of the year or as a symbol of purity, pour it on the floor in four corners of the house.

The main purpose of this ritual is to make friendships and relationships stronger and provide an opportunity for friends and relatives to meet and converse.

Though the ritual is fading away, the municipality of Ardabil is trying to revive it.

PR/MM