Aash, handicrafts take center stage at Zanjan festival
The 19th National Iranian Aash Festival and the 20th National Handicrafts Exhibition opened on Monday, August 24, and will run through August 28 at the Caspian International Exhibition Center in Zanjan, the provincial director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said.
Seyyed Mikaeil Mousavi told ISNA that all the necessary infrastructure for the event had been prepared. “This year, 40 booths have been set up for cooks from 23 provinces, while 155 handicrafts booths have been prepared for artisans from 29 provinces. Some of the participants have already arrived in Zanjan,” he said.
Mousavi said billboards and banners promoting the festival had been installed across the city and that necessary arrangements had been made to welcome tourists.
He also announced the launch of a special tourist train for the event. “This year, a tourist train has been launched from Tehran to Zanjan. Tourists will arrive in Zanjan on Thursday morning, visit the Soltanieh Dome, and then tour the exhibition and Aash festival. Therefore, the exhibition will open one hour earlier on Thursday,” he said.
Travel agencies have also prepared special tourism packages and dedicated tours for the festival to provide services to visitors, he added.
Mousavi noted that nomadic communities from different provinces will also participate in the festival by setting up traditional black tents, where they will introduce their culture, customs and local foods to visitors.