TEHRAN – Iran’s 18th National Festival of Ash and Traditional Foods opened on Wednesday in Nair, Ardabil province, attracting participants from 12 provinces and drawing large crowds, officials said.

The three-day event was launched in the presence of parliamentarian Sodeif Badri, Ardabil’s cultural heritage director Jalil Jabbari, and other provincial authorities, CHTN reported.

“This festival, with 18 years of history, has become one of the most important provincial events with national participation,” Jabbari said at the opening ceremony.

He said 60 booths were set up featuring Ash -- a traditional Iranian slow-cooked soup -- and other regional dishes, along with handicrafts and local products. “The festival is held in a tourism zone of Nair to promote food tourism and showcase the region’s capacity for attracting visitors,” he said.

Jabbari added that such festivals help boost tourism in Ardabil province. “This event itself has become a factor in increasing travel to Ardabil and encourages families to include the province and its festivals in their travel plans for future years,” he said.

The program included cultural and artistic performances, cooking competitions, traditional games and exhibitions of handicrafts.

Ash, which is central to the festival, is typically prepared with noodles, legumes such as chickpeas and beans, herbs including dill, mint and coriander, and sometimes meat. Variations use different grains, vegetables, yogurt, and spices such as saffron and turmeric.

Iranian cuisine combines influences from Near and West Asia, India and East Asia, reflecting the country’s location on the Silk Roads. Culinary traditions are often described as both cultural and medicinal, with food serving as a gateway to Iran’s history and identity.

AM