TEHRAN -- Iranian literati gathered in Khoy, the resting place of Shams-i Tabrizi on October 6 to attend a seminar organized in honor of Persian mystic and poet Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273).

The seminar “Molana in the Mirror of Shams” was followed by several short speeches delivered by experts on Rumi and the great influence of Shams on Rumi.

Mevlana Museum Deputy Director Naci Bakirci, Iranian experts on Rumi Mohammad Movaqatian and Karim Zamani, as well Khoy officials took part in the seminar.

Movaqatian gave the opening address, speaking of Shams as the symbol of honor for the Iranians, and expressed hope to be bale to preserve his culture ad knowledge.

The ceremony continued with a live music performance by singer Ali Jahandideh who recited a selection of Rumi’s poetry.

Director of Khoy City Council Fattah Kabiri next said that Rumi created an opportunity for Iranians to get to know their culture better and introduced their luminaries to the people of their country and the world.

He also talked about the agreement in which the two Iranian cities of Neyshabur and Khoy, and the Turkish city of Konya were named sister cities, which was arranged on the side section of the seminar.

Expert Zamani next said that research on Rumi needs an individual to step into this field wholeheartedly, adding, “It is good to read the poetry of Rumi but in order to deeply understand his poetry, we need to carry out more research.”

The ceremony was brought to an end with the handing of the golden key of Khoy to the mayor of Neyshabur and the representative of the mayor of Konya, and a live music performance by tar virtuoso Jalal Zolfonun.

Neyshabur in Khorasan Razavi Province is home to the mausoleum of the Persian classical poet Farid ud-Din Attar (c. 1145-1221) while Konya in Turkey is the location of the shrine of the Iranian mystic and poet Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273). 

Born in the city of Tabriz, Shams lived together with Rumi in Konya for several years. Shams was immortalized in Rumi’s collection of poetry named the “Divan of Shams ad-Din of Tabriz”.