One of the most interesting ceremonies in Azerbaijan, especially in the Urmia region, is the Grape Festival, or in Turkish, Shani-Dar. Stay with Saeed News to learn more about this ceremony.
Urmia is one of the largest cities in Iran and the center of East Azerbaijan province. The city of Urmia has a history of 3,000 years and is considered one of the ancient cities of Iran. This city has always been home to various ethnicities and cultures, and throughout the years, the culture of each ethnic group has influenced one another. Celebrating festivals during harvest time is a tradition found all around the world. In many regions of Iran, we witness the annual celebration of various ceremonies, which are directly influenced by the local livelihoods. The "Grape Festival" and the "Dushab-making Ceremony" in West Azerbaijan province (especially in Urmia), known as the "Shanadar" or "Shani Dar" festival, is one of the ceremonies rooted in the local economy and the income situation of the people in the province.
Shani Dar Ceremony
One of the most interesting ceremonies in Urmia is the Grape Festival, also known as "Shani Dar" (or "Shani Der," derived from the words "Shani," meaning a type of premium grape grown in West Azerbaijan, and "Dar," meaning harvest or picking). Muslims refer to this festival as Shani Dar, while Christians call it Oshana. The Grape Festival and the Dushab-making ceremony date back over three thousand years. This celebration is considered a symbol of gratitude to the Creator and is held annually in late summer, coinciding with the grape harvest. This beautiful festival is celebrated alongside the Dushab-making ceremony, during which grape juice is extracted. Both events are listed as intangible cultural heritage in Iran, registered under West Azerbaijan province.
The festival has been celebrated in Urmia since before the arrival of Islam in Azerbaijan. The people would hold the celebration during the grape harvest and the extraction of its juice. After the arrival of Islam, however, only religious minorities, such as Christians, continued to celebrate this festival, while Muslims refrained from participating due to religious beliefs. Today, the festival is commonly held in villages such as Kurdabad, Dighaleh, Rasimanabad, Qoshchi, Jamalabad, Golan, and others, each with its own unique customs and rituals.
Shani Dar Ceremony
The Shani Dar ceremony would begin with the "Ilbashi" (the leader of the tribe), who was the head and elder of the tribe. People would gather in the vast open field known as "Talavara," awaiting the arrival of the Ilbashi. The Ilbashi would enter the field accompanied by four women, as well as a young boy and girl holding baskets of grapes. The presence of four women symbolized the four natural elements (water, wind, earth, and fire), while the young boy and girl represented the continuation of life. The Ilbashi would begin the ceremony with prayers of gratitude, followed by the special Grape Festival prayer. After the prayer, the young boy and girl would offer grapes to the people as blessings, and each person would take grapes according to their wishes.
Next, the grape syrup extraction ceremony (Dushab) would begin. The grapes were washed, crushed using special machines, and placed into containers known as "Taghar" to extract the juice. Then, a special type of earth was added to settle impurities, ensuring the juice was clear. The grape juice would then be boiled over wood fires until it reached the desired consistency. After this, local strongmen would perform a wrestling competition, followed by music and drum playing in the field (Talavara), a group dance (Yalli), and a long procession to symbolize unity. The people would sing traditional local songs, celebrating the harvest.
Shani Dar Songs
On this blessed day, in every city and village, special songs are sung. The local Ashiqs (folk musicians) perform these songs, sometimes traveling great distances at the invitation of the villagers to join in the celebration. These songs do not have religious significance but instead bring joy and excitement to the hearts of the people. Below is a portion of the lyrics translated from Turkish to Persian, which are special to this festival:
"We celebrate the goddess of agriculture (Akinchi Tanrisi),
The goddess of the heavens (Anonu),
The goddess of the earth (Beli Ra),
The goddess of the sun (Ginas Tanrisi),
The goddess of water, fire, wind, and earth,
And we celebrate the goddess of health (Saha Tanrisi),
Who protects our grapes and fruits from floods, storms, and all other natural disasters.
We celebrate the protector of deep valleys (Aani),
And the head of the great tribe (Il Bashi Patiesileri).
May all our festivals be blessed, especially the Grape Harvest Festival, the 'Shani Dar' festival, and the festival of joy."
Conclusion
Throughout this land, many traditions and festivals exist, some of which have been forgotten with time. However, it is our duty to preserve and protect them. The Grape Festival of Azerbaijan is one of the ancient and beautiful celebrations, and we highly recommend attending it at least once.
