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Niavaran, in the northern part of Tehran, is one of the most affluent and expensive districts of the city. Passing by some of its modern tall buildings with their luxury apartments and ostentatious facades, it is difficult to imagine that it was just a small village until about a century ago. Yet, a closer examination reveals winding leafy backstreets leading to some other remnants of its past, such as crumbling old houses, traditional bakeries, or a public bath.

The documentary film maker, Hadi Afarideh, stumbled upon these when one day he accidentally lost his way in the area. This incident sparked off his interest in the history of Niavaran, and particularly its complex of palaces built during the Qajar and Pahlavi periods in a vast garden of eleven hectares. Situated in the foothills of the Alborz mountains, north of the then much smaller Tehran, Niavaran had a cooler climate compared to the rest of the city. This made it a favourite location for the Qajar rulers to choose as their summer retreat.



Later, during the reign of the last Shah, all the buildings, with the exception of the Sahebqaraniyeh Palace and the Ahmad Shahi Pavilion from the Qajar period, were demolished. They were replaced by a modern palace and several other buildings, which together with the two existing palaces constitute the present-day Niavaran Palace complex. These were all occupied by the revolutionary forces after the Islamic Revolution, and gradually opened to the public many years later.

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After extensive and painstaking research into various archives, interviewing several people and encountering many obstacles on the way, Hadi Afarideh finally succeeded in completing his documentary on the fascinating history of Niavaran and its palaces. In this multimedia report, he takes us on a nostalgic journey to this old village.
Source: jadidonline.com

Oraman is an isolated village in Kurdistan near the border of Iraq. Its history goes back more than a thousand years ago, when it is believed that the Aryans came to settle there. It nestles amongst the rocks of the surrounding mountains and until about fifty years ago it did not have a single road connecting it to the outside world. This has led to a culture of self-sufficiency, practiced here long before this expression was coined. For centuries the people have been wearing the cloth they weave and eating the food they produce.

But Oraman’s main feature is the stone which literally encircles the village. It provides an infinite source of material and is almost sacred. Here everything is made of stone, from houses to mills, garden walls and livestock pens. Its distinctive style of architecture follows an overlapping pattern, with every roof serving as a small courtyard for the house above.

Another major feature of Oraman is its traditional ceremonies and rituals. Because of its seclusion throughout centuries, the village had provided a safe haven for the followers of Sufi orders who were able to practice their faith freely and openly here. The colourful, and at times musical, ceremonies are rooted in the rituals and ancient traditions attached to these Sufi orders.

The biggest ceremony is called the wedding of Pir Shaliar, named after a legendary spiritual leader. According to legend, he healed the daughter of the ruler of Bukhara who was suffering from an apparently incurable disease. He subsequently marries her and this event is celebrated every year with a great feast and dervishes chanting and moving to the sound of the daf.

This multimedia report invites us to visit this ancient village and take part in its fascinating ceremonies. Oraman Council member, Bashir Ghassemi guides us through this historic village.

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Ilam ( Persian: ایلام, Kurdish: ئیلام) is the capital of Ilam Province in western Iran. It is located in the west of Iran at a latitude of 33º 38´ north and longitude of 46º 26´ east. The Kabir Kuh mountain range lies east of the city. From the west it borders Iraq and had an estimated population of 168,478 in 2005 predominantly inhabited by Feyli Kurds.

Ilam is situated in the cold mountainous region of Iran at a height of 1319 m above the mean sea level. Although this city is surrounded by mountains, its climate is also affected by deserts from the west and the south. This region presents a highly variable annual weather profile. Heavy showers or heavy snow in the winter and dusty, hot, dry weather in the summer are normal for this region.

The name Ilam usually conjures up images of war, destruction and poverty. Ilam bore the brunt of the Iraqi attacks during the eight years of the Iran-Iraq war. But if you visit Ilam, what attracts your attention more than the scars of war and depravation is its unspoilt natural scenery and a profusion of historical remains which are scattered all over the province.

These were mostly built during the Sassanian era, third to seventh centuries A.D. They include the remnants of a vast historical city spread over 200 hectares, numerous fortresses of various size as well as several bridges, shrines and fire temples.

The splendid natural scenery of Ilam, located in the heart of Zagros Mountains, varies from imposing cliffs to slopes covered in a thick canopy of varied trees, as well as valleys, passes made through the mountain gaps, meadows, and grazing lands.

The majority of the population are nomadic tribes whose livelihood depends on rearing sheep. Whichever part of the province you cross and whatever route you take, there are always flocks of grazing sheep, with tribesmen in colourful clothes tending them.

Image gallery
Photo gallery by Farshid Samani