International Celebration of Nouruz for upcoming Spring

 

Valiasr Avenue - Tehran

IRAN, is in a great atmosphere these days. Streets, side walks, shopping centers, and stores all are too crowded, but all people are happy. Probably it has been one month that from early morning to late night its the rush hours. What makes all people to be in rush? What makes people happy in these crowded busy days?

Getting ready for Nouruz, the Persian New Year Celebration, and the coming of Spring is the reason. Nouruz Celebration is one of the oldest traditions of Iranians which its root is from a great glorious civilization that goes back over 3,000 years ago. About more that a quarter of Billion people celebrate the new year and coming of Spring.

One month or more before Nouruz, people prepare themselves by cleaning their house and buying new clothes, nuts and candies, so the intensity of crowd on the streets is conspicuous in Esfand, the last month of Persian Solar Calendar. A black person called Haji Firooz (or Khawja Pirouz), wears red clothes and wanders in the streets in the last days and attracts people by singing, playing and dancing. However, nowadays, you can hardly find them in the streets, at least in the area where I live. It seems that few people are willing to become Haji Firooz.

Haji Firooz

Lord Nouruz has come.
Friends, spread this message -
The New Year has come again!
This spring be your good luck,
The tulip fields be your joy.
Haji Firooz Song

Nowrūz (Persian: نوروز, IPA: [nouˈɾuːz], "New Day", originally "New Light") is the name of the New Year in Iranian calendars and the corresponding traditional celebrations. Nouruz is also widely referred to as the Persian New Year. 

Nouruz is celebrated and observed by Iranian peoples and the related cultural continent and has spread in many other parts of the world, including parts of Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea and some parts in the Balkans. 

Nouruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians, the same time is celebrated in parts of the South Asian sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals.

Originally being a Zoroastrian festival, and the holiest of them all, Nouruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin. Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox.

Haft Sin

Haft Sin Table

Today, Nouruz tradition is continued through the setting of a special table or spread with an arrangement of specific symbolic items, seven of which have names that start with the Persian letter 'S' (called Sin in Persian). These are:

1. Sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing Rebirth 
2. Samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing Affluence 
3. Senjed - the dried fruit of the ole-aster tree - symbolizing Love 
4. Sîr - Garlic - symbolizing Medicine 
5. Sîb - apples - symbolizing Beauty and Health 
6. Somagh - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) Sunrise 
7. Serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing Age and Aatience

Sometimes a missing Sin is exchanged with another item starting with an S. For example:

• Sonbol - the fragrant hyacinth flower - symbolizing Spring
• Sekkeh - Coin - symbolizing Prosperity and Wealth
  

 

Sizdeh Bedar (13th Outdoors)

On 13th day so called Nature Day (the National day), people go to the nature and parks for picnic. Usually they take their Sabzeh and release it on a river. An ancient belief says that if girls tie two sprouts of Sabzeh and then release it on a river, soon they will find their love and an appropriate person for getting married with. 

Sizdah Bedar , the national day of Nature - People go to the nature and parks for celebrating this day.

 UN Recognition

The UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized March 21 as the International Day of Nouruz, describing it a Spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and calling on world countries to draw on the holiday's rich history to promote peace and goodwill.

Nouruz Carnival in New York

Iranians will start the years that are mentioned below:

1) The solar year 7033 (Aryan Civilization)
2) The solar year 6761 (Assyrian Civilization)
3) The solar year 3749 (Zoroastrian Civilization)
4) The solar year 2570 (Achaemenian Civilization)
5) The solar year 1390 (The Civilization since Islam appeared)

 

Iranians will celebrate Nouruz for about 13 days. First day of Spring which is equal with start of Persians New Year and Nouruz, will be on Monday 1st of Farvardin at 02:50:45 (Tehran) or on Sunday, 20th of March at 23:11:30 (GMT). 

*.*Happy New Year*.*

It's a culture that people pray each other and ask God for health and happiness in the last moments of the year. So let's pray for people of Japan to be always in peace and no Tsunami happens again in next days and also pray for those who are buried under the dusts to being survived.

 

Sources: wikipedia.org, englishcafe.com, chiff.com, iranmap.com, opera.com

United Nations General Assembly Recognizes 21 March as International Day of Nouruz (Persian New Year Celebration)

*.*Happy New Year*.*

*.*Happy International Nouruz*.*

After lots of attempts by Persian Bloggers and also by participating lots of Iranians in an Online Petition, in order to Internationalize the Iranian's National New Year Celebration, so called "Nouruz", which is being celebrated in many many countries in the world that were a part of Persian Empire, finally United Nations General Assembly has convinced to add 21st of March in the International Calendar and recognized it as International Day of Nouruz.

In the General Assembly many countries have tried to persuade the chief of UN for Internationalizing the Nouruz, and as it's clear in the news of UN's Department of Public Information, after Azerbaijan’s representative attempts, Iranian representative by quoting lines of the Persian poet Mevlana Rumi that expressed the holiday’s theme of rebirth “On our planet and in our souls” and by support of Millions of Persians everything has finished up and finally the General Assembly of UN convinced.

Persian Nouruz is going to celebrate in many countries which were under Persian Empire authority and Persian Cultures, included here:
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, some parts of Turkey, Georgia and Russia, Iraq, Lebanon, the countries under Persian Gulf, Pakistan, Most parts of India, North Western of China, Eastern and South Eastern of Europe, and many other countries which were one of the provinces of IRAN [Persia].

Cyrus the Great - Founder of Persian Empire, 2600 years ago

It's been about 1 month which the cities are all crowded in IRAN and all people are getting ready for the great celebration which is came from their glorious civilization. It's a custom in this celebration to buy Fruits, Cookies, Chocolates to welcome relatives, friends and other guests. Iranian's hospitality is known for those who traveled there.
Those who traveled IRAN do not think like other people of the world, cause they've seen something different from the things which the Western Media has shown and propagate against IRAN.
" If you're one of the many Americans who believe that IRAN is a nation of religious thugs that was born when a handful of them took our embassy in Tehran hostage, I just want you to consider one thing. Today marks the Persian New Year, celebrated by roughly more than a quarter billion people throughout the world, but originally in IRAN at least as far back as 2,500 years ago.
"March 20?" You ask. Yes. It's the vernal equinox, or more commonly known, the first day of Spring. One could make the case that a people who start their year at the beginning of Spring may come from a more civilized tradition than those whose calendar starts on a random day in the middle of winter.
So I say this Persian New Year we resolve to be more curious about the other, less insular and engage in dialog with our adversaries with the goal of finding common ground. " said Jason Rezaian in his blog.

It's been a long time Persian Nouruz being appreciated by International Communities:

A traditional Haft Sin table celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is seen set Wednesday, March 19, 2008, in the State Dining Room of the White House. Nowruz is, in Persian and some other cultures, including Kurdish culture, a family-oriented holiday celebrating the New Year and the coming of Spring. The Haft Sin table has seven items symbolizing new life, joy, love, beauty and health, sunrise, patience and garlic to ward off evil. White House photo by Chris Greenberg

21 March 2009, Microsoft Live Search Engine used Persepolis picture as its background for appreciating Persian Nouruz.

Google Search Engine Logo's has been changing each year in the first day of Spring and the first day of Nouruz Celebration.

San Francisco hosts Nouruz celebration

From the Mayor's Office of Communications

March 31, 2006

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi hosted 500 guests from across the Bay Area for the 1st Annual Nouruz Celebration in the City and County of San Francisco.

Ballet Afsaneh transform City Hall's rotunda in celebration of Norouz, the Iranian New Year.

Mayor Gavin Newsom consoles Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi after Mirkarimi puts best foot forward with greetings in Persian.

Nejad WorId Music Center perform hypnotic traditional Persian standards.

Haft-Sin Table in Kish Island under Persian Gulf by some Iranian divers.

Iranians will start the years that are mentioned below:

1) The solar year 7032 (Aryan Civilization)
2) The solar year 6760 (Assyrian Civilization)
3) The solar year 3748 (Zoroastrian Civilization)
4) The solar year 2569 (Achaemenid Civilization)
5) The solar year 1389 (The Civilization since Islam appeared)

Iranians will celebrate Nouruz for about 13 days. First day of Spring which is equal with start of Persians New Year and Nouruz will be at 21:02:13 Tehran (17:32:47 GMT) 20th of March.

This Persian Girl miniature is one of the symbols of Spring and Nouruz, which mostly being seen in Iranian Artists paintings.

Sources: www.un.org , www.whitehouse.gov , www.fogcityjournal.com , www.sfgate.com

The History of the Persian Carpet

The Persian Carpet is an essential part of Persian art and culture. Carpet-weaving is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, and dates back to ancient Persia.
In 2008, IRAN’s export of hand-woven carpets was $420 million. There is an estimated population of 1.2 million weavers in IRAN producing carpets for domestic markets and international export. In recent times Iranian carpets have come under fierce competition from other countries (China as well and some other countries) producing fakes of the original Iranian designs as well as genuine cheaper substitutes.

Persian Carpets can be divided into three groups:

1. Farsh or Ghāli (sized anything greater than 6x4 feet)
2. Ghālicheh (meaning rug, sized 6x4 feet and smaller)
3. Nomadic carpets known as Kilim, (including Zilu, meaning rough carpet).

To look at a Persian Carpet is to gaze into a world of artistic magnificence nurtured for around 2,600 years. The Iranians were among the first carpet weaver of the ancient civilizations and, through centuries of creativity and ingenuity building upon the talents of the past, achieved a unique degree of excellence.

The carpet is the finest and most exquisite form of expression and Iranian can find and the best specimens available today rank amongst the highest level of art ever attained by mankind. Even today, with Iranians increasingly being swallowed up in the whirlpool of a fast expanding industrial, urban society, the Persian association with the carpet is as strong as ever.
An Iranian's home is bare and soulless without Persian Carpet, a reflection on the deep rooted bond between the people and their national art.

To trace the history of the Persian Carpet is to follow a path of cultural growth of the greatest civilization the world has ever known. From being simply articles of need, as pure and simple floor entrance covering to protect the nomadic tribesmen from the cold and damp, the increasing beauty of the carpets found them new owners - kings and nobleman, those who looked for signs of wealth or adornment for fine buildings.

Many people in IRAN have invested their whole wealth in Persian Carpets - often referred to as an Iranian's stocks and shares - and there are underground storage areas in Tehran bazaar that are full of fine specimens, kept as investments by shrewd businessmen. And for many centuries, of course,the Persian Carpet has received international acknowledgment for its artistic splendor. In palaces, famous building, rich homes and museums throughout the world a Persian Carpet is amongst the most treasured possessions. Thus, today IRAN produces more carpets than all the other carpet making centers of the world put together.

The elements of luxury with which the Persian Carpet is associated today provides a marked contrast with its humble beginning among the nomadic tribes that at one time wandered the great expanse of Persia in search of their livelihood. Then it was an article of necessity to protect the tribes from the bitterly cold winters of the country. But out of necessity was born art. Through their bright colors and magical designs, the floor and entrance coverings that protected the tribesmen from the ravages of the weather also brought relief to their dour and hardy lives. In those early days the size of the carpet was often small, dependent upon the size of the tents of room in which the people lived.

The earliest known Persian Carpet was discovered by Russian Professor Rudenko in 1949 during excavations of burial mounds in the Altai Mountains in Siberia. The Carpet had been preserved purely by chance/ soon after it had been placed in the burial mound, grave robbers raided the mound. They ignored the carpet but, threw the opening they left, water poured into the mound and froze, thus protecting the carpet from decay. Called the Pazyryk rug, the carpet has a woolen pile knotted with Chords knot. Its central field is a deep red color and it has two wide borders, one depicting deer and the other Persian horseman. It dates from the fifth century B.C. and is now kept in the Hermitage Museum of Leningrad.

An other rug found in the same area, this time with a Senneh knot, dates to the first century B.C. But, long before that historical records show that the court of Cyrus the Great, who founded the Persian monarchy under Achaemenid Dynasty 2,600 years ago, was bedecked by magnificent carpets. Classical tales recount how wild alexander found carpet of a very fine fabric in Cyrus tomb.

The next great period in the history of Persian Carpets came during the Sassanian dynasty, from the third to the seventh century A.D. By the 6th century Persian Carpets had won international prestige and were being exported to distant lands. And in this time was created one great carpet which was a spectacle of overwhelming splendor. The spring or winter carpet of King Khosrow was made for the huge audience hall of the palace at Ctesiphon and depicted a formal garden. It held a political significance as an indication of the power and there source of the king and its beauty signified the divine role of the king. When the wild and uncivilized arabs defeated the Persians and took Ctesiphon, they carried off the carpet as part of their fabulous booty and it was eventually cut up into small fragments and divided among the victorious soldiers.

Yet its magnificence lived on, inspiring subsequent history, poetry and art and helping to sustain Persian morale for centuries. It also provided a source of inspiration for subsequent carpets but, although many have tried, not even the most skilled have been able to equal its spellbinding design.

Certainly when Mongols invaded the country in the 13th century they found many Persian homes and tents boasting local carpets. But for the next two centuries, the artistic life of the country, including carpet weaving, declined under the influence of the devastation wreaked by the Mongols. But, among his few graces, the conqueror Tamerlane spared artisans from his bloody havoc and had them sent to his palaces in Turkestan. Under his successor art began to flourish once more. His son Shahrokh put a great emphasis on Persian Carpets and outstanding specimens began to appear once more from court subsidized looms. The lavish royal support guaranteed the highest skills and the finest materials money could buy. Once more the art was for a great climax.

The climax came with the Safavid dynasty in the 16th century. When Shah Ismael occupied the throne in 1499 he began laying the foundation for what was to become a national industry that was the envy of surrounding countries. The most famous of the kings of this era, Shah Abbas, more than any one transformed the industry, bringing it from the tents of the wandering nomads into the towns and cities. In Isfahan, which he made his capital, he established a royal carpet factory and hired artisans to prepare designs to be made by master craftsmen. He charged officers of the crown to ensure that the integrity of the industry was maintained and in his period the art of carpet weaving once again achieved monumental proportions. The best known carpets of the period,dated 1539, come from the mosque of Ardebil and, in the opinion many experts, represents the summit of achievements in carpet design. A complex star medallion dominates a rich system of stems and blossoms on a vivid indigo field. The larger of the two stole by Great Pirates [Britain] which is now kept in London's Victoria and Albert Museum while the other can be seen at the Los Angles County Museum. Excellent silk animal rugs were woven in Kashan while, to the north of Isfahan, weavers turned out the distinctive vase carpets. Rugs of great beauty were also woven in Kerman, Yazd, Fars, and Khuzestan.

Shah Abbas also developed the use of gold and silver thread carpet, culminating in the great coronation carpet now held in the Rosenberg Castle, Copenhagen, which has a perfect velvet-like pile and gleaming gold background. (These carpets has stolen again probably during political crisis which always has been made by Great Pirates [Britain] ).

Historical city of Isfahan

These carpets, of course were made for the court and the great nobles, and were protected as well as any golden treasure. They had special custodians and, even when they were brought out for state and other special occasions, were usually covered with another light fabric to protect them from wear. Growing demand from the royal courts of Europe for these gold and silver threaded carpets led to a great export industry. A large number went to Poland after King Sigmund specially send merchants to Persia to acquire them. King Louis XIV of France even sent his own craftsmen to Persia to learn the trade.

As the 17th century wore on there was an increasing demand for luxury and refinement. A set of silk carpets woven to surround the sarcophagus of Shah Abbas II achieved such a rare quality that many mistook them for velvet. But they were the last really high achievement in carpet making from that era in Persian history. Somehow, inspiration steadily began to slacken and, as the court became increasingly improvised, the quality of the craftsmanship began to fall away.

When Shah Abbas' capital city of Isfahan was sacked in 1722 a magnificent period in the history not only of carpet weaving but of art itself came dramatically to an end. The great carpet weaving fell back into the hands of wanderings nomads who had maintained their centuries-old traditions and skills, apart from a few centers, principally Josheghan, Kerman, Mashhad, and Azerbaijan. Even the low school rugs these centers produced were in danger of being ruined as an art by the growing demand from the West in the mid 19th century for quantity at the expense of quality. Cheap, dyes, low quality wool, chemical washing and even meaningless designs supplied by the European importers brought the industry almost to its knees.

After sporadic and largely successful efforts to stop the rot, the government took drastic action and confiscated the carpets in which cheap days and low quality wool had been used. The dye Masters soon came to their senses, with it began a new era of revival for the carpet crafts. The IRAN Carpet Company and a school of design were established in Tehran to restore the integrity of Art and to study and build the great works of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Source: Persia.org

Congratulation the World's Most Glorious New Year Celebration | First Day of Spring and the Nouruz of the Year 7031

First Congratulation to the Soul of Cyrus the Great.


A paint from Cyrus the Great - Founder of Persian Empire, 2598 years ago

The Shrine of King of Kings, Cyrus the Great (Pasargadae - Fars Province - IRAN)

20th of March, first day of Spring and Persian's New Year and Nouruz celebration for 13 days...
Nouruz will start at 15:13:39 Tehran (12:43:39 GMT).

Persian Nouruz is going to celebrate in many countries which were under Persian Empire authority, include:
Azerbaijan, Armenia, some parts of Turkey, Georgia and Russia, Iraq, Lebanon, the countries under Persian Gulf, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Most parts of India, North Western of China, Eastern and South Eastern of Europe, and many other countries which were one of the provinces of IRAN.

*.*Happy New Year*.*

Congratulation to whole Empire of Persia and willing no ill will.

Iranians start the years that are mentioned below:

1) The year 7031 (Aryan Civilization)
2) The year 3747 (Zoroastrian Civilization)
3) The year 2568 (Achaemenid Civilization)
4) The year 1388 (The Civilization since Islam appeared)

A Haft-Sin Table


Haft-Sin Table in Pars Hotel - Kerman Province - IRAN

Arash with Collaboration of Rebecca Zadig, Aneela, Helena and DJ Alligator; One of the World's Most Famous Pop Singers, Especially Around the Europe

Arash Labaf (23 April 1977 in Esfahan-IRAN) - the Persian singer, dancer, entertainer and producer residing in Malmö, Sweden. Arash grew up in Esfahan (An Ancient and Historical city in center of IRAN) and then his family moved to Uppsala, Sweden before moving to Malmö five years later.

"Travel to India"

Arash is the name of a Persian Hero after whom Arash's parents have called the 31-years old singer. After that Boro-Boro had taken the VIVA-N-Rotation and the Pop MTV2 fresh list in the storm, he shot right away on place 11 of the Germany's charts. Especially the young people stand on the great mixture of oriental atmosphere and super danceable beats, and thus Boro-Boro went not only to the Germany's Airplay charts, but became also on thousands of mobile phones a hit and reached in the Jamba ring tone charts on MTV2 Pop the place 1. And also in the TV of Germany, with "Top of the Pop".

The extremely good-looking Arash cut a fine figure and do the fans to ecstasy.
His first debut album, entitled “ARASH”, was released in June 2005, after he had finished college. His singles, "Boro-Boro" ("Go Away") and "Temptation" (featuring Rebecca Zadig) made it to the hit lists around Europe, and their respective videos garnered significant airplay on more than 20 MTV outlets across the world.
Arash's claim to fame, his hit "Temptation" was collaboration with Swedish singer Rebecca Zadig. Arash had an initial minor hit with the song done solo, but his duo with Rebecca Zadig made him much better known. Rebecca has neither very pretty voice and is from Mexico originally.

"Rebecca Zadig"

In addition to successes in his home countries' music charts, namely IRAN and Sweden, he has had hits notably in Eastern European and South-East European charts like Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Georgia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Turkey and in Asian music charts like in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and throughout the @r@b Middle Eastern countries under Persian Gulf.

He has gone gold in 5 countries: Germany, Russia, Slovenia and Greece for his album, entitled “ARASH”, and in Sweden for "Boro-Boro".

In Kazakhstan Arash played recently for 50,000 eager fans, and especially in Russia, Arash is already a Superstar. Arash has released a Russian song; "Восточные Сказки" (Vostotchyie Skazki) (featuring Блестящие Blestyashchie), a Russian version of "Temptation", in which he sings in Russian and the Russian version became a big hit in Russian charts. After he has song a Russian version of his second single Temptation, he gave a private concert for the birthday of the mayor of Moscow. And at the 2006 New Year Night he had appeared with Russian stars, Blestyashchie, together in the biggest Russian show RTR and, besides, had reached 150 million spectators.

A brilliant mixture of Persian sounds and the charming scrolling of the Bollywood style which we already know from the hyper romantic, color-splendid Indian films combine with modern Pop beats and pure earwig melodies. On his first album are, for example, groovy Temptation which mixes useful Euro beats with Persian harmonies and a powerful party hit to mention.

Arash was born in Esfahan (IRAN), and when his parents gave him the name of a Persian Legend Hero, they maybe anticipated that he would do his luck in the world.

Music became his life, and his life became the music, up to the day when Arash lost his voice in winter few years ago for inexplicable reasons. The doctors had already given him up, and, in the end, his girlfriend left him in addition, so that Arash drowned his grief with alcohol and worse things. And then the miracle happened; unexpectedly and on a blow his voice came back. “Nobody knows why,” so he tells, “but it happened. I have cried for luck that I thought. “

In his "dumb" time he had written some songs - one of it was Boro-Boro which became now his big hit and confirms with it.” Pursue your dreams, until they become true! “Boro-Boro is the resignation song to the friend who had left him at that time.

He executes his songs in Persian language mainly and English.

Another collaboration of Arash was with Persian-Pakistani-Danish singer, Aneela (Anila Mirza) in the hit "Chori-Chori". "Chori-Chori" (September 2006), Aneela and Arash stepped out together on German version The Dome, presenting Chori-Chori.

"Aneela"

The three-way collaboration between Arash / Rebecca Zadig / Aneela in "Bombay Dreams" for a film under the same title.

DJ Alligator (Born on March 10th 1975, in Tehran, IRAN) appeared in Arash's music video for "Music is My Language" as the producer and rapper. The song "Music is My Language", was an appreciate for Persian Language (The official Iranians language) and also a show off for DJ Alligator to introduce himself as an Iranian. (Because before the song "Music is My Language" most people thought that he is originally Danish.)

"DJ Alligator"

In his 2006 album (Crossfade), Arash, DJ Alligator and “Shahkar Bineshpajoo” made a song for the Iranian National Football Team for their appearance in the 2006 World Cup.

Arash released in March 2008 his third album, "Donya [The World]" featuring amongst many, a Reggae/Dancehall influenced single and music video "Donya" in collaboration with Shaggy.

In June 2008 Arash released another Russian song "На моря" (Na Morya) featuring Anna Semenovich. This song became number One hit of Summer 2008 in Russia.

• Arash (2005)
  • Boro Boro
  • Yalla
  • Tike Tike Kardi
  • Baskon (feat. Timbuktu)
  • Arash (feat. Helena) [Download] Watch the film
  • Temptation (feat. Rebecca) [Download] Watch the film
  • Bombay Dreams (feat. Aneela and Rebecca) [Download]
  • Behnaz
  • Man o Tou
  • Salamati
  • Music is my language (feat. Dj Alligator) [Download] Watch the film
  • Ey Yar Begoo (feat. Ebi)
  • Tike Tike Kardi (Payami Lounge)
  • Temptation (CMN Remix) (feat. Rebecca)
  • Boro Boro (Bollywood Cafe Mix)

• Crossfade - The Remix Album (2006)
  • Iran Iran (feat. DJ Alligator) [Download]
  • Arash (MintmanRemix)
  • Tike Tike Kardi (DJ Aligator Remix)
  • Temptation (CMN Remix)
  • Man o Tou (Feat Lucia)
  • Boro Boro (Payami Funky Sunday Remix)
  • Temptation (Russian Version With Blestjashie)
  • Arash (feat. Helena - English Version)
  • Tike Tike Kardi (Balkan Fanatics Remix)
  • Baskon (100% Persian Version)
  • Ey Yaar Bego (New Version)
  • Boro Boro (Saba Rock Remix)
  • Arash (Payami Vocal Club)
  • Tike Tike Kardi (Sodaclub Remix)
  • Temptation (Payami Club)
  • Boro Boro (Feat Aneela Indian Version)
  • Baskon (Russian Version Bonus)

• Donya (2008)
  • Intro
  • Donya (feat. Shaggy) [Download]
  • Suddenly (feat. Rebecca) [Download]
  • Miduni Midunam
  • Kandi (feat. Lumidee)
  • Pure Love (feat. Helena) [Download]
  • Naro
  • Chori Chori (feat Aneela)
  • Laf
  • Joone Man
  • Tanham
  • Doset Nadaram
  • Dasa Bala (feat. Timbuktu Yag)
  • Donya (Payami Break Mix)

Sources: ArashFans - Arash - Wikipedia - Arash, Rebecca, Aneela

Special Thanks from My Best Friend "Reza" ( .:TeraBIT:.)

Five of the World's Best Film Directors and their Documentaries about Beijing 2008 Olympics | What was going on back behind the 2008 Beijing?

After more than 600 days of planning, filming and post production work, the VISION BEIJING film project held its global premiere on February 24, 2008, in Beijing. The works of five world-famed directors who participated the project were shown to the public, serving as an audio-video record of the rich connotations of Beijing People's Olympics. Meanwhile, this event will provide the world with some insights into Beijing's history and culture in an engrossing and entertaining way.

The VISION BEIJING project is sponsored by the Information Office of the Beijing Municipal Government, the Beijing Foreign Cultural Exchanges Association and the Beijing Tourism Administration. It was organized by the Beijing Foreign Exchanges Center and Beijing This Month Publications.

Five of the World's Best Film Directors, Giuseppe Tornatore (Italy), Majid Majidi (IRAN), Patrice Leconte (France), Daryl Goodrich (England) and Andrew Lau Wai-Keung (Hong Kong), were invited to make a short film each about Beijing and its people’s preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Following their own styles, these five well-known directors told five stories of Beijing in their own ways. These passionate and inspirational films portray the beauty and charm of this ancient yet rapidly modernizing international metropolis and the host of the 2008 Olympics.

It was also the first time for Majidi to China. After showed around and after visiting Beijing’s World Cultural Heritage sites, the Beijing Urban Planning Exhibition Hall, the Beijing Shichahai Sports School and the Beijing Beihai Kindergarten;

He said: “He was particularly impressed by the vitality of elder people. This was my first chance to experience Beijing, but I feel very warm here, as our cultures are connected. China is a mysterious and wonderful place, and the Chinese people make this place mysterious and wonderful.”

"I am most impressed by the middle-aged and retired people, who have great passion for life," he added later.

Despite his impression for the elderly, Majidi, Oscar-nominated for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film with Children of Heaven in 1998, chose his favorite subject, children.

In Colors Fly, Majidi focused on children looking forward to the Games.

Children are typically Majidi’s favorite film actors and subjects. He is always inclined to portray the real lives of common people.

Majidi is known for his sensitive portrayal of children in films such as Children of Heaven and Color of Paradise.

In his short film, Majidi captures a group of ordinary Beijing students in yellow, blue, green, purple and red clothes on a morning in Beijing. The students are shown riding their bicycles as they bear their colorful wish-filled balloons through crowds, parks, streets, office buildings and public squares. On various plazas around the city, the students let fly their balloons which attract the attention of people in the area. The balloons soar before coalescing into beautiful Olympic rings. The final scene caused thunders of applause at the premiere.

In Tornatore's first trip to China, the Italian, Academy Award winner for Nuovo Cinema Paradiso in 1999, made Reunion, telling a story about how a group of students and their teacher got back together after 30 years.

Leconte was a stranger to Beijing too but he soon caught up with his knowledge for the Chinese capital, shooting Beijing -- A Film Impressionistic. Arguably France's best director, Leconte depicted Beijing through various structures including Summer Palace, Olympic venues and modern constructions.

Retired as an athlete, Goodrich found his career in a combination of sport and film-making.
After his success in his promotional film for London's bid for the 2012 Olympics, he joined Vision Beijing.
His five-minute film, entitled Belief, focused on the hard work and thrill of athletic competition.

Hong Kong director Lau, the only Chinese director invited to the project, showed his love for the Chinese food in Color, Fragrance, and Taste Beijing.
Lau, having a large group of fans in China thanks to his hit works including Storm Riders, Infernal Affairs and Initial D, showed different types of famous Chinese food and depicted relations between food and Chinese culture.

"I love food so I am the right person to make the film," said Lau half-jokingly. "The only problem is there are too many types of food for me to choose for my film. I just have to show the best of the best."

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2008)

The Organizing Committee also enjoyed the support of society. More than 10 cultural celebrities served as advisors to the project, such as Xu Zhihong, Liu Huan and Ma Wei; many famous actors participated, such as Zhang Yang, Tian Zhuangzhuang and Jiang Wenli. More than 100 sites were used as shooting scenes. Nearly 300 film-makers and more than 1,500 working staff, nearly 30 famous actors and sports stars and more than 2,800 extras were involved in this project.

After the premiere ceremony, these five films will be shown via CCTV-2, Beijing TV, the national TV stations of IRAN, Italy, France, and on flights of Air France, Air China, in cinemas in Beijing, via Beijing’s city TVs, mobile TVs, subway TVs, city big-screen TVs and during other cultural exchange occasions.

Hong Kong director Andrew Lau Wai Keung listens to a question during the Vision Beijing news conference in Beijing yesterday.

The project has showcased five short films by five world famous film directors, namely Lau, Giuseppe Tornatore of Italy, Majid Majidi of IRAN, Patrice Leconte of France, and Daryl Goodrich of England. The short films are about Beijing and the people's preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games.

These angles are what five internationally renowned directors took when showing to the world what Beijing was liked in preparing for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

Andrew Lau (L)

Patrice Leconte

Majid Majidi

Giuseppe Tornatore

Daryl Goodrich

In Leconte's "Beijing-A Film Impressionistic," there is no storyline but like an impressionist painting. There are many images like kites flying in the sky, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, the National Stadium and people performing acrobatics in this impressionistic "painting". Watch the film

Following his signature theme of children, Majidi has them in his film to send Beijing's best wishes for the Olympics and hopes for a harmonious world. Named "Colors Fly", the short movie features a group of children who fly balloons in the five colors of the Olympic rings. As the children ride the bicycles on the street, they release the balloons with wishes written on them.
Watch the film
[Can also watch Colors Fly Here]

In comparison with Leconte's images, Andrew Lau focuses his camera on enticing food in Beijing. In the Hong Kong's five-minute movie, he shows the delicious buffet of food, including Peking duck in fancy restaurants and snack stands along the street. The shots of the food are enough to make any viewer hungry. Watch the film

Young athletes are the main theme of Goodrich's film. The British director was inspired by a local youth's three questions about China's role in the modern Olympics. The movie answers the queries by affirming China's status in the sporting world and its big contribution to the Olympics. Watch the film

Finally, compared with the other four films, Italian director Giuseppe Tornatore's work is a complete story. His film begins with a busy Beijing morning, when a bus driver surnamed Li recognizes an elderly woman doing tai chi in the park is his former teacher. What follows are scenes of people with various occupations, like construction workers, Peking opera singers and tricycle riders. The story follows with Li writing to her former classmates to organize a reunion with their teacher. Watch the film

Biography of Majid Majidi

Majid Majidi (Persian: مجید مجیدی , born 17 April 1959 in Tehran) is an internationally and critically acclaimed Iranian film director, film producer, and screenwriter.

Born in an Iranian middle class family, he grew up in Tehran and at the age of 14 he started acting in amateur theater groups. He then studied at the Institute of Dramatic Arts in Tehran.
After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, his interest in cinema brought him to act in various films, most notably Mohsen Makhmalbaf's Boycott in 1985.
As of 2004, Majidi was the only Iranian director who has been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film with the film Children of Heaven in 1998. He lost the award to the Italian film Life Is Beautiful by Roberto Benigni.

Filmography: Directing

1) Explosion (Enfejar) (1981) - documentary short
2) Hoodaj (1984) - short
3) Examination Day (Rooz-e Emtehan) (1988) - short
4) A Day with POWs (Yek Rooz Ba Asiran) (1989) - documentary short
5) Baduk (1992) - debut feature
6) The Last Village (Akhareen Abadi) (1993) - short
7) Father (Pedar) (1996) - feature
8) God Will Come (Khoda Miayad) (1996) - short
9) Children of Heaven (Bacheha-ye Aseman) (1997) - feature
10) The Color of Paradise (Rang-e Khoda) (1999) - feature
11) Baran (Rain) (2001) - feature
12) Barefoot to Herat (Pa berahneh ta Herat) (2002) - documentary
13) Olympics in the Camp (Olympik Tu Urdugah) (2003) - documentary short
14) The Willow Tree (Beed-e Majnoon; alternate English title One Life More) (2005) - feature
15) Peace, Love, and Friendship (2007) - documentary short
16) The Song of Sparrows (2008) - feature

17) Kashmir Afloat - in production.

Awards and honors

Majid Majidi has received numerous awards up to now. Here are a few:

1) Ecumenical Special Award, 25th Montreal Film Festival, 2001.
2) Grand Prix Des Ameriques, 25th Montreal Film Festival, 2001.
3) Oscar-Nominated for Academy Awards for Best Foreign Film, 1998.
4) Grand Prix of Americas Best Film, 21st Montreal Festival for World Films, 1999.

Sources:
Wikipedia, China Daily, BoomTownBeijing, china.org.cn, BTMBeijing