Illustrative report
Nowrooz of Gilanis
The New Year of 1583 (Gilani calendar)

By  Ashkan Khosrowpour, Amordad correspondent
TEHRAN (Amordadnews): Bal Nowrooz ceremony and the Gilani New Year of 1583, together with the first day of ‘Our Nowrooz’ was celebrated by the natives and the people who had gathered from all parts of Daylaman.
Lighting the fire, thanking God for his blessings and crops, and praying for the peace of the souls of the dead were parts of this ancient Iranian tradition.  This ceremony coincides with harvesting in Gilan.
Bal Nowrooz, meaning the Nowrooz fire, is the start of Gilan New Year, in which fire lighting is one of its most important programs, and from long past the people would welcome the New Year by lighting fire.
Bal Nowrooz ceremony is celebrated for the fourth consecutive year, after many years of laps, in the Daylaman village.  This festival was celebrated by the Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Trourism Organization of Gilan and the cultural publication, ‘Gilehva’, and in cooperation with the District Islamic Council and the municipality of Daylaman.
Jaktaji, the Executive Manager of Gilehva, expressed his hopes that these customs, which in fact belong to the people, will be held in future, directly by the people and without interference of other organizations.
Bal Nowrooz, meaning ‘the fire of Nowrooz’, is the name of a festival celebrated on the first day of ‘Our Nowrooz’ and this is the first day of Daylaman New Year.
After the invasion of Arabs, the Daylaman people lost track of the leap year calculation.  For this reason, gradually, as each 4 years passed, the Daylaman Nowrooz stayed behind by one day.
The leap year was forgotten until the year 934 Hejri lunar calendar (about 500 years ago), during the reign of Tahmasb Shah when Daylaman accepted Iranian nationality.  On this year, which is equal to Hormoz day, the first day of the year 5454 Yazdgerdi calendar (the ancient Iranian calendar) the solar calendar was again used officially.  The natives of this area call this calendar their sun calendar.
Bal Nowrooz is celebrated in Daylaman, which comprises the land between Sepidroud River in the west and Shiroud River in the east of Gilan.
Bal Nowrooz celebration, on the same day of ‘Our Nowrooz’, the first day of Gilani New Year, was held in Daylaman.  The natives and the people who had come from all parts of Daylaman, gathered to celebrate New Year of 1583 of the Gilani calendar.




Bal Nowrooz was celebrated for the fourth consecutive year, with the purpose of reviving this ancient tradition, by the Cultural Heritage, Handicraft and Tourism Organization and the Gilehva Cultural newspaper, in cooperation with Daylaman Islamic Council, District Governorate and municipality.

Mohammad Taqi Jaktaji, one of the founders of Gilan Culture Centre, made a speech about Bal Nowrooz tradition.
 
Bal Nowrooz, which is being celebrated for the fourth consecutive year, was previously celebrated in Malekut village, but this year it has come to Daylaman village of Siyahkal district.


Mohammad Taqi Jaktaji, one of the founders of Gilan Culture Centre, made a speech about Bal Nowrooz tradition.


Afshin Partow, one of the scholars of our country, spoke about the ceremonies held side by side with Bal Nowrooz:  “On the first day of ‘Our Nowrooz’, the newly wed couples who have married in the past year, are given white horses to ride upto the foot of the mountain.  As the brides and grooms reach the mountain foot, a yellow cow is set free, as a sign of happiness and abundance for the new couples.”.
Partow has turned down the existence of the custom of sacrificing in these ceremonies.

The new couples reach the mountain foot.


Daylaman bride and groom

1583 Bal Nowrooz in Daylaman


1583 Bal Nowrooz in Daylaman

Two men from Daylaman wearing ‘shoula’, a local costume of the Galesh people

The ‘Gilehmardi’ wrestling, one of the side programs of Bal Nowrooz day.

The one who wins in the Gilehmardi wrestling match, runs round the field and displays some acrobatic actions.

Bal Nowrooz ceremony in Daylaman

Some theatre plays performed by local theatre groups.  This play, which was about the Daylaman calendar, was well received by the audience.

Plays performed on Bal Nowrooz in Daylaman

The play was about Gilani calendar.  Previously, this play was performed in some foreign countries.


Plays, as part of the Bal Nowrooz celebration in Daylaman

Bal Nowrooz ceremony in Daylaman

Plays, as part of the Bal Nowrooz celebration in Daylaman.

Plays, as part of the Bal Nowrooz celebration in Daylaman.

Plays, as part of the Bal Nowrooz celebration in Daylaman

The police was responsible for the safety and security of the ceremony


photographer: Sima Mehrazar
Translation by Rowshan Lohrasbpour