TEHRAN -- Tehran’s Niavaran Cultural Center is currently hosting a festival promoting the culture and traditions of the northern Iranian province of Mazandaran.
Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini, Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Hamid Shahabadi and Mazandaran governor Seyyed Ali-Akbar Tahaiee attended the opening ceremony of the festival on Saturday.
A group of artists and scholars from various cities in Mazandarani were honored during the ceremony and Hosseini presented theme prizes.
Veteran actors Davud Rashidi and Ali Omrani, celebrated vocalist Abdolhossein Mokhtabad and photographer Seyyed Ahmad Taherpur are among the artists.
The group also included sculptor Hossein Tusi, composer Ali-Asghar Jahangiri, calligrapher Yunes Khanlarzadeh and Iranologist Manuchehr Sotudeh.
Local handicrafts, artworks and cuisines are on display at open-air exhibitions at the center.
A collection comprising 150 paintings and 20 sculptures by artists from Mazandaran have been showcased at one of the exhibits.
In addition, a number of musical and ritual performances have been arranged for the festival.
The Mazandaran Cultural festival runs until October 10 at the Niavaran Cultural Center.
SB/YAW
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