TEHRAN –The 21st edition of the International Ritual and Traditional Theater Festival is currently underway in the northern city of Gorgan, Golestan province. 

The festival will be hosting several artists, with both local talents and those from China and Tajikistan joining the event, a local cultural official has said.  

Out of the 22 countries from Europe, Asia, and Africa that submitted their work for consideration in this year's festival, both China and Tajikistan were chosen to showcase their unique traditions and rituals, IRNA quoted Reza Yazarlu as saying on Wednesday. 

“Like Iran, China and Tajikistan place special emphasis on cultural identity and believe that their customs, traditions, and rituals bring richness to cultural diversity,” he noted.   

He further explained that music, melody, rhythm and movement are the universal languages in traditional and ritualistic performances.

He also emphasized that traditional rituals are the oldest forms of performance art in the world, rich in history and culture, and draw interest from different social groups.

The festival includes sections such as radio theater and performing arts exhibition, running in Tehran, stage and international sections in Gorgan, Shabih-Khani in Tafresh, individual performances and theatrical games in Shahr-e Kord, puppetry and student sections in Bojnurd, and research seminars and playwriting sections in Tabriz.

The 21st International Ritual and Traditional Theater Festival will run until October 3.

SAB/