TEHRAN – The Iranian tourism minister on Friday expressed admiration for the national unity that exists among Iranian nomads and ethnic groups.

Ezzatollah Zarghami made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the 16th edition of the festival of Iranian nomads & tribal economy, which he called a manifestation of such harmony.

This festival was a manifestation of unity among ethnic groups, the minister said. “The Islamic Republic is proud to officially acknowledge the identity of ethnic groups.”

The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts stated: "Having rooted identities for the Iranian nation is a very significant and valuable honor.

Ethnic groups have lived together for thousands of years, and today, [some of] those knowledgeable people have created a showcase of this ethnic diversity, living together beautifully and harmoniously, which is a source of pride, he explained.

He highlighted that ethnic groups represent differences in color, clothing, language, dialects, music, customs, and traditions, stating that their beauty lies within these differences.

The official continued: “Some believe that everyone should be made the same by force, but it shouldn't be so." This was attempted by the communists 70 years ago; they didn't succeed and fell apart.”

Westerners and Americans also seek uniformity through their new ideas. Our dear youths, who are fond of studying, should know that uniformity is one of the Western conspiracies that will surely fail, Zarghami noted.

The 16th edition of an international festival of Iranian nomads & tribal economy was launched in the ancient city of Gorgan, northern Iran, among a crowd of various tribes and curious visitors.

Along with Iranian nomads, dozens of tribespeople and exhibitors from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan took part in the five-day event to highlight their cultural heritage and tourism magnetism.

Organizers sought to encourage more domestic and overseas tourists and holidaymakers to visit nomadic tribes. Highlights of the festival included traditional music, folk dance, workshops, and cultural and culinary shows to name a few.

The festival is intended to establish bonds between various nomads. A cultural heritage expert stressed the need to reinforce cultural ties between the nomadic tribes of the ancient land. “Iran is a rainbow of different ethnicities, which have lived together for millennia,” Golestan’s tourism chief said.

Iranian nomads mainly live in the provinces of Fars, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari, Khuzestan, Isfahan, and some other provinces. They usually change between their winter quarters in steppes (Qishlaq or warmer areas) and summer quarters in green mountainous regions (Yeylaq or cooler countryside).

Sightseers may visit nomads at different times of the year. However, the best seasons are spring and summer. There are several nomadic tribes you can meet or stay with, each of them having its own unique lifestyle, culture, customs, foods, and musical performances.

AFM