TEHRAN –A pomegranate festival was held in Kuhdasht, western Lorestan province on Thursday in a bid to develop agritourism, the provincial tourism chief has said.

The first pomegranate festival was held in Kuhdasht to develop and promote agritourism in the region, Ata Hassanpur explained on Saturday.

Local farmers and gardeners participated in the festival, setting up Siah-Chador (giant “black tents”) and selling pomegranates and products of this fruit, the official added.

Moreover, the festival aimed to introduce the high-quality pomegranates of the region, he noted.

The pomegranate enjoys great reverence and importance in Iranian culture, religion, art, and tradition. It often symbolizes abundance, blessings, and fertility.

Every autumn, many pomegranate growers in Iran hold festivals to thank God and celebrate the harvest season. Alongside the grape and the fig, the pomegranate has played an important role throughout the Orient since the earliest times.

Pomegranate is native to Iran and eastward up to north India. It is widely cultivated in most provinces of Iran, with different colors, sizes, and flavors. It is impressive to see the variety of pomegranates in the country. The ancient land is well-known for the quality of pomegranates and is the largest exporter of pomegranates in the world.

Agritourism is a relatively new branch of the travel industry, where tourists stay with local people in rural areas. Recreational activities on the farm or ranch refer to activities conducted on private farmland, which may include paid hunting and fishing, overnight stays, educational activities, etc.

Experts believe that agritourism is a subset of a larger sector called rural tourism, which includes resorts, off-site farmers’ markets, non-profit farm tours, and other recreational and hospitality activities that attract visitors to the countryside. Rural tourism is said to be somewhat different from agritourism. For example, rural tourism activities do not necessarily take place on a farm or ranch or farm. They do not generate additional income for the farm.

ABU/AM