All About Shab-e Yalda, Ancient Persian Festival Marking Winter Solstice
By Nazanine Nouri
Since time immemorial, Iranians around the world have celebrated the ancient Persian festival of Shab e Yalda, the longest and darkest night of the year -- or winter solstice.
Yalda is a deeply...
Tehran’s Tabiat Bridge Wins Prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Tehran’s Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge has won the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture, becoming one of six winners of this year’s award and sharing an overall cash prize of $1 million.
Designed by Diba Tensile...
Historic Shiraz Houses May Be Destroyed to Expand Shah-e-Cheragh Shrine
By Kayhan Life Staff
The government of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is reportedly planning to demolish some 200 historic houses in Shiraz to expand the Shah-e-Cheragh Mosque and shrine complex. The proposed plan reportedly calls...
The Golestan Palace: An Outstanding Example of Qajar Architecture
The Golestan Palace or Kakh-e Golestan is one of the oldest historic monuments in Tehran. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2013. For UNESCO, “it is a masterpiece of the Qajar...
Nowruz Events in Europe
By Tara Biglari
Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the first day of spring and is an Iranian word that translates as "New Day." The holiday is celebrated by Iranians across the globe with week-long...
“Reza Shah, Bless Your Soul,” Protesters Chanted
By Potkin Azarmehr
“Reza Shah, Bless Your Soul”: This was the repeated chant that was heard during the 6 days of protests throughout Iran. They were referring to Reza Shah the Great, the founder of...
Iran’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Chogha Zanbil
Earlier this month, the ancient city of Yazd became the 22nd site in Iran to be inscribed by UNESCO on its World Heritage List, which distinguishes places deemed "of outstanding value to humanity." To mark the event, Kayhan...
Cyrus the Great Day Is Celebrated at London’s Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue
By Kayhan Life Staff
The Lauderdale Road Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in the west London neighborhood of Maida Vale held a ceremony on Oct. 29 to mark Cyrus the Great Day, the founder of the...
Iran’s Azadi Tower Damaged by Sound Waves From Nowruz Gun Salute
By Kayhan Life Staff
The Azadi Tower (formerly known as Shahyad Tower), one of Tehran’s iconic landmarks, has been damaged by sound waves and vibrations during a cannon (artillery) firing ceremony (8-gun salute) to mark...
Iranian Experts Discover Cuneiform Tablet Dating Back to Reign of Xerxes I
By Kayhan Life Staff
Experts at the Takhte Jamshid World Heritage’s Research Center for Paleography — the study of historical writing — have discovered a limestone tablet written in cuneiform inside the archives of the...
