Rose-Water (Gulãb) Festival

Springtime provides an extraordinary picture of Iran for those who are interested in visiting this four season country. Thanks to nature reborn, a spectacular traditional festival also takes place during early May to late June in few provinces of Iran, called Rose-Water (Gulãb) Festival. These annual festivals of Rose water are being held since 2500 years ago in spring season.

 

 

 

 

 

Rose water is made from a very sweet smelling kind of rose called Mohammadi Rose (Damask rose) which is among the most important roses and famous plants in the world. Being historically well-known for growing Mohammadi Roses, Kashan and Meymand are the most famous cities for this festival every year in the country.

 

 

 

 

 

The colorful and sweat-smelling festival includes flower-picking by women and men in the early morning in the gardens and you can meet groups of people with traditional clothing. Then, the rose petals get distilled in huge pots to produce Gulãb or Rose water. The Rose water extraction is done in two ways; industrial and handmade. It is provided at homes, gardens, and in special workshops. The festival carries out various other activities like drinking, cooking or handcrafting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These traditional festivals provide an opportunity for tourists to participate in Rose water production. Many tourists pay a visit to this floral ceremony each year during May and June. What makes rose-water distillation even more amazing, is that the flowers grow in a desert-like climate which adds a wonderful scenery to the delicate fragrance of roses.

 

 

 

 

 

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References:

www.iranreview.org

www.irantravelingcenter.com

www.tripadvisor.com

toptenteh.com