Golabgiri
Golabgiri (Persian, "making rosewater") is a ceremony taking place annually from mid-May to mid-June in Kashan, Isfahan Province, Iran. The ceremony takes place throughout Kashan county, in Ghamsar, Niasar and other villages during the full bloom of the rose. During this event, that annually attracts tens of thousands to two million tourists, the essence of the Rosa damascena, 'Damask Rose', planted in many flower gardens in these areas, is prepared by the traditional method of an evaporation system.[1][2]
Roses have been grown in Iran since at least the 10th century. In the 16th century, Kashan became a major hub for rose water distilleries, whose products were exported to nearby countries. The golabgiri festival is held here in honor of it retaining the oldest and most traditional methods of rose water distillation: many other cities have adopted modern machinery to speed up processes. [3]
The festival is free to attend, and tours include viewing distilleries or the rose harvests. [4]Celebrations will commonly hold at cultural centers and include traditional rosewater extraction ceremonies, exhibitions showcasing the specialties of different provinces and the handicrafts of ethnic groups, various cultural and artistic programs, and live performances of Iranian ethnic music. [5]
30 kilograms of petals are placed in a large copper vessel known as a dig, which is filled with 80 liters of water. Once it is sealed, the water is heated, causing the steam to rise and pass through the flowers. The steam carries the essential oils and fragrances, which are then collected in a cooling coil. The distillation process typically takes several hours, and the resulting rose water is collected in large containers for bottling. This time-consuming method is prized for the high-quality rose water produced.[3]
Depending on the purity of the rose water, it is graded into seven categories: heavy rosewater (first grade), light rose (second grade), “doatashe” (double fire rosewater), “sehatashe” (three fire rosewater), and sub-aromatic rose. [6]
References[edit]
- ^ "Rosewater festivals take center stage in central Iran". Tehran Times. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 2018-08-30.
- ^ Massoudi, Cyrus (12 September 2014). Land of the Turquoise Mountains: Journeys Across Iran. I.B.Tauris. p. 61. ISBN 9780857736048 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Morshed, Arash (9 Apr 2023). "The Fragrance Festival: Golabgiri Season in Iran". Eavar Travel. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Kashan Rose Water Festival: Golabgiri in Iran". Rashin Travel. May 20, 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Rosewater festival: a celebration of tradition and culture underway in Tehran". Tehran Times. May 13, 2024. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Golabgiri (Making Rosewater)". Islamic Culture and Communications Organization. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
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