TEHRAN – The second edition of the Taska Bread and Food Festival wrapped up on Friday, attracting a vibrant crowd of locals and visitors in the historical city of Semnan, once a key stop on the Silk Road.

This three-day celebration of local cuisine and culture showcased the rich culinary traditions of the region, a local official said.

It featured a diverse array of activities centered around traditional foods, including booths for local delicacies, bread-making demonstrations, and a variety of artisan crafts, Seyyed Karim Mohammadi said.

“Children enjoyed dedicated workshops such as painting activities, while adults explored sections focused on health and wellness, along with a flower and plant exhibition.”

Moreover, the official highlighted the festival’s role in promoting Semnan’s cultural heritage and tourism. “We aimed to showcase the maximum cultural, artistic, historical, and tourism potentials of Semnan.”

He emphasized the festival’s objective to revive interest in traditional Iranian cuisine and forgotten local foods, thereby supporting the local economy through cultural and touristic engagement.

The enthusiastic response from attendees underscored the community’s appreciation for its culinary roots and the importance of preserving traditional practices. Organizers expressed their commitment to continuing this celebration of Semnan’s unique gastronomic offerings in future editions of the festival.

In 2022, Iran selected Semnan to represent the country at a union of Silk Road cities based on an initiative launched by China to promote tourism along the ancient route that once linked Asia to the Western world.

The ancient Silk Road has existed for thousands of years, passing through empires, kingdoms, reigns, and societies throughout history. At certain times in its long history, traders could travel freely along these routes, whereas at others, travel was difficult or dangerous.

According to UNESCO, the Silk Road enriched the countries it passed through, transporting cultures, religions, languages, and material goods into societies across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and uniting them all with a common thread of cultural heritage and plural identities.

Taska is the name of a traditional cooking pot from the Semnan region.

AM