TEHRAN –The first national festival of lullaby, titled “Gahvareh” (Cradle), came to an end in Tehran on Saturday. 

The ceremony, which was held at the Art Bureau, was attended by a number of cultural figures, poets, writes, scholars and researchers as well as lullaby enthusiasts. 

The festival aimed to promote the heritage and traditions of lullabies from different regions of Iran and to foster an understanding of lullabies among future generations.

During the closing ceremony, Boshra Sahebi, the secretary of the event, expressed her gratitude to the participants and speakers, highlighting the significance of preserving lullaby traditions and promoting research in the field.

She also stated that this was just the beginning of a journey towards promoting lullabies as an art and culture. The festival attracted a large number of lullaby enthusiasts, scholars, and researchers from across Iran, Sahebi noted.

More than 200 works from 20 provinces of the country were submitted to the festival, and were reviewed by the judges, she added.

The most important section of the festival, which is also the research section, was held in three academic, artistic, and cultural fields, Sahebi explained.

For his part, Mohammadreza Sangari, a literature researcher and scholar, said that lullabies have the potential to serve as a tool for teaching and spreading ideas among children.

He also highlighted the bravery and resilience of Gaza children in the face of danger, such as bombs and missiles, as a result of their mothers' education in their lullabies. 

Houshang Javid, a music researcher and scholar, was also honored at the event for his lifetime achievements. Javid called for more responsibility from authorities to preserve lullabies as a traditional art form.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of awards and honors to the winners in various categories.

A lullaby, also known as a cradle song, is a calming melody or piece of music that is typically played or sung to soothe children to sleep. 

The functions of lullabies vary across cultures. In some societies, they serve as a means of transmitting cultural knowledge and traditions. Lullabies also aid in the development of communication skills, convey emotional intent, maintain infants' attention, regulate behavior, and moderate arousal levels.

One of the most crucial uses of lullabies is as a sleep aid for infants. As a result, the music is often simple and repetitive. Lullabies have existed since ancient times and can be found in various countries.

SAB/