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In the center of Iran’s Isfahan province, Kashan county changes from a dusty, brown desert into a bright sea of pink and green each spring. From May to June, the hills are full of Mohammadi roses, as local workers pick thousands of flowers. The quiet city of Qamsar becomes busy with visitors from all over the world who come to see the roses.
Some places now use modern machines, but many still use the old way called golab-giri. This process involves boiling rose petals in big copper pots to make rose water. The steam turns into liquid that becomes either rose oil for perfume or rose water used in food and medicine. Visitors can buy rose water, sweets, and even barrels of roses directly from makers in Qamsar or at the bazaar in Kashan.
Rose water is not only for its lovely smell. In Iran history and culture, it flavors sweets like faloodeh and is used to treat health problems like sore throats and heart issues. The making of rose water is often linked to the 10th-century Persian doctor Ibn Sina, known in the West as Avicenna, though it might be even older. Mohammadi roses have inspired Persian poets for centuries, including the famous 14th-century poet Hafez, who advised to “enjoy life while the rose blooms.” The Rose Water Festival in Qamsar offers a wonderful experience for those who want to enjoy this long-lasting tradition and its many delights.
Kashan Rose Water Festival History
The Mohammadi rose, a very important flower in Iran, has been grown here for a very long time. History shows that seeds of this rose were first sent from Iran to Turkey, Syria, and Bulgaria during the Safavid era. Iranian roses have been a key export for many years, and they were once carried to China and India along the Silk Road. Even today, many Iranian roses are sent to other parts of the world. Growing roses in Iran goes back about 7,000 years, and people have been picking them for nearly 1,000 years. Despite modern methods, the traditional way of making rose water in Kashan is still popular.
The dry and desert-like area around Kashan makes the rose farms even more amazing for visitors. The rose water festival, called Golab Eid, is full of old traditions like camel parades and celebrations. During the rose water season, you can visit Kashan, walk through the rose fields, and join in the festival fun. The smell of roses fills the air in many cities and villages around Kashan, making May a perfect time to visit. The traditional ways of making rose water here are some of the best in the world, adding to the special charm of the Golab Eid festival.
Kashan Rose Water Festival: Golab Giri
The Rose Water Festival Kashan, also known as Golabgiri, is an annual celebration held in the central Iranian city of Kashan from mid-May to mid-June. During this festival, the region’s famed Damask roses, locally called Mohammadi Roses, are in full bloom, transforming the hot desert landscape into a magnificent floral display.
The festival attracts tens of thousands to two million visitors each year to witness the traditional process of extracting rosewater through an evaporation system. Locals and tourists alike can participate in the harvesting of rose petals, which is typically done before sunrise when the flowers are believed to be most fragrant. The petals are then placed in large copper vessels, heated over a fire, and distilled to produce the prized rosewater.
The Kashan Rose Water Festival celebrates the region’s rich cultural and historical heritage of rose cultivation, which dates back centuries. Rosewater has long been an integral part of Persian culture, used in perfumes, cosmetics, cuisine, and religious ceremonies. The festival offers visitors a chance to immerse themselves in this ancient tradition and experience the beauty, fragrance, and culinary delights associated with the Damask rose.
Kashan Rose Water Festival Significance
Kashan, known for its lovely rose gardens and rosewater making, celebrates its cultural heritage and economic strength with the Rose Water Festival. This event honors the long tradition of growing roses and making rosewater in the area. The festival not only shows the skill involved in creating rosewater but also brings together the community and visitors to celebrate a practice that has been part of Kashan’s identity for many years.
The festival has a big economic impact, helping local businesses and boosting sales of rosewater and related products. Tourists come to Kashan during the festival, providing important income for many families. The event also helps keep traditional rosewater-making methods alive, ensuring these skills are passed down through generations. By celebrating the Rose Water Festival, Kashan proudly shows its cultural richness and economic resilience, making it a special and important event for the community.
Best Season for Kashan Rose Water Festival
The best time to visit the Kashan Rose Water Festival is from mid-May to late June when the Mohammadi roses are in full bloom across the region. The festival celebrates the annual rose harvest and rosewater production, which is a centuries-old tradition in Kashan.
In Kashan and the surrounding warmer areas, the roses typically bloom starting in mid-May, marking the beginning of the festival season. However, the peak blooming period can vary slightly depending on the local climate, with cooler mountainous regions like Barzok seeing the roses bloom a bit later, around late May or early June.
During the festival, many locals work in the rose fields and rosewater workshops, providing a boost to seasonal employment in Kashan. Visitors can witness the traditional rosewater extraction process, which involves steaming rose petals in large copper pots and collecting the condensed rosewater. The best time to pick the roses is in the early morning before sunrise, when they are most fragrant.
The Rose Water Festival Kashan offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in the region’s rich cultural heritage, while also enjoying the beauty and fragrance of the blooming roses. Visitors can explore the rose fields, sample rosewater-infused culinary delights, and attend traditional music and dance performances. It is one of the best things to do in Kashan.
FAQs about Kashan Rose Water Festival
Q1: What is the Kashan Rosewater festival?
A1: The Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a much-loved event that happens every year. It celebrates the long history and culture of the city. The festival takes place when the rose flowers are in full bloom in the late spring. During this time, the streets of Kashan become a beautiful and fragrant display of colors.
Q2: What is the festival of rose and rose water?
A2: The Rose Water Festival in Kashan is a well-known and very popular festival that happens every year in May in Iran. Rose water, which is made from the Damask rose (also called the Mohammadi rose in Iran), is a fragrant liquid that acts as a tonic.
Q3: Where and when does the rose water festival take place?
A3: The Rose Water Festival is a tradition among Persian people. They celebrate it between April 8th and May 20th, when the pink Damask Rose flowers bloom and spread the scent of spring, especially in cities like Ghamsar and Niasar.
Q4: What is the rose flower in Iran?
A4: The Mohammadi Rose, which is called Gol-e Mohammadi in the Persian language, now exists in many different types around the world. However, botanists still consider the Iranian version of this flower to be the most valuable one. It is from the beautiful petals of this Iranian rose that the amazing rose water, called “Golab” in Persian, is made.
Q5: Which country is famous for rose water?
A5: Roses are originally from Iran, and the method of extracting the important oils from roses to make rose water was probably developed here more than 2,000 years ago. Rose water is used to give a nice smell to ice cream, baklava (a sweet pastry), and nougat (a chewy candy).
Last Words: Experience the Best of Kashan Rose Water Festival with a Customized Tour
Every year, from mid-May to mid-June, the city of Kashan in Iran changes from a dry, brown desert into a bright, colorful place full of pink and green flowers. This is the time when the Mohammadi rose, the famous flower of the region, is in full bloom. During this time, thousands of people come to Kashan to see the roses. The small town of Qamsar gets very busy with visitors from all over the world.
If you want to fully experience the wonderful Kashan Rose Water Festival, it is best to go on a customized tour of Iran. To Iran Tour, a well-known provider of Iran tours and travel packages, is very good at designing an itinerary that shows you the best of this amazing event. Their team of experienced professionals understands the details of Iranian culture and can plan a Iran Tours experience that lets you fully explore the rich heritage and traditions of Kashan’s rose water celebration.
So, if you’re excited to go on a sensory adventure through the heart of Iran’s flower wonderland, trust the experts at To Iran Tour to plan a customized tour that will give you cherished memories of the Kashan Rose Water Festival.
