From Yalda to ...
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In the grand Yalda celebration, marking the second night of the series and the presentation of the Nowruz Plaque, Young women dressed in traditional costumes from Nowruz-region countries recited Persian poetry and stories around a table set with foods traditionally associated with Yalda night. Music groups from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan also performed.
In her remarks, Mona Rahmani, executive secretary of the event, said participants had gathered to reflect on two ancient Iranian heritages, namely Nowruz and Yalda, that have transcended geography and traveled through history to the present day. “At first glance, these celebrations may seem like occasions for joy, gathering, and cultural rituals,” she said. “But a closer look shows that both Nowruz and Yalda carry within them a form of cultural diplomacy and civilizational dialogue.”
She concluded by emphasizing that this cultural legacy celebrates the continuity of life rather than destruction, praises the renewal of nature rather than ruin, and gives meaning to peace rather than the erasure of the other. “If every country, every nation, and every policymaker understood the message of Nowruz and Yalda, perhaps our world would fear violence less and look to the future with greater hope,” she said. “Let us see Nowruz as the shared language of the region’s nations and Yalda as a lesson in togetherness during times of darkness.”
Professor Balram Shukla, cultural attaché of the Indian Embassy, spoke about commemorations of the longest night of the year in the Indian subcontinent and concluded his remarks by reciting a verse from Hafez, the Iranian poet whose works are read on Yalda, along with its translation into Sanskrit.
Renowned Iranian musician Keyvan Saket spoke about the beauty of Yalda night before performing a solo piece.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Nowruz Plaque was awarded to ten social activists in recognition of their efforts during the 12-day war, as a symbol of empathy and solidarity. Among the recipients were a music producer and documentary filmmaker, a journalist and documentary director, a child rights activist, and a rescue and relief pilot.