TEHRAN – Karaj, the capital of the north-central Iranian province of Alborz, is getting prepared to host the ninth edition of a tulip festival, which will be held in spring, an official with Karaj Municipality has said.

As a part of the project, over 200,000 tulip bulbs in 3,820 different colors are being planted in the flower garden of Karaj’s Chamran Park, Ramezan-Ali Pur-Rostami explained on Saturday.

By creating a special working group, detailed planning has been done in order to make the tulip festival as successful as possible, the official added.

A wide variety of floral species such as tulips grow or are being bred across the Iranian plateau, particularly on the central slopes of the Alborz mountain range.

Inverted tulips are among the unique and indigenous flora of Iran’s mountainous areas.

Tulip or “Laleh” in Farsi, is known for its therapeutic abilities. It is also deeply rooted in the history and culture of the nation. The Tulip is a national symbol of martyrdom as well.

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), etc.

Some say that European tourists took the unique tulip species for the first time from Iran’s Zagros region to Austria and other European areas in 1576.

ABU/AM