TEHRAN – A vast flower carpet, which is said to be the largest of its kind in West Asia, will be unveiled in Mahallat, a hectic hub of flower gardens in central Markazi province on Wednesday, an official with Mahallat Municipality has said.

Flowers from 200,000 varieties will be used in the carpet, which will cover some 800 square meters, ISNA quoted Marjan Khosravani as saying on Tuesday.

The project will be carried out by the city’s Municipality and the City Council in collaboration with the citizens who are interested in flowers, the official added.

The project aims at promoting Mahallat’s capacities in the tourism field as well as introducing the city as the center of cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants in the country, she noted.

The oldest and perhaps most beautiful evidence of flower bouquets in Iran is found in the stone carvings of the UNESCO-registered Persepolis. Over 2500 years old, the stone carvings show Darius I (550– 486 BC), holding the scepter of authority in one hand and a lotus flower with two buds in his right hand, a symbol of royalty.

Flowers have also thrived in the Persian language. Many girls are named after flowers: Ra’na (Blanket Flowers), Shaghayegh (Anemone), Banafsheh (Violet), Yaasaman (Jasmine), Niloofar (Lotus flower), Nastaran (Eglantine), Laleh (Tulip), Narges (Daffodil), etc.

Mahallat is famous for its large flower gardens. Some even it the ‘Holland of Iran’ likening it to the Netherlands in terms of the diversity of flowers.

ABU/AM