Entertainment Desk
On a chilly evening of the longest night of the year, 14th-century Persian poet Hafez Shirazi, was remembered through poetry recently in Dhaka.The Iran Cultural Centre organized the event, titled “Poetry Evening on Hafez Shirazi,” on the occasion of “Shab-e-Yalda,” which means the longest night of the year. Yalda is a winter solstice celebration in Iran.
In Iran, this is the time of the year when friends and family gather together to make merry, eat fruits like pomegranates and watermelons and nuts, and to read poetry, especially Hafez, till midnight.
Among others, Mohammad Reza Nafar, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Bangladesh, and poet Asad Chowdhury, were present at the event as special guests.
Asad Chowdhury, Shihab Sarker, Hasan Hafiz, and Shah Newaz Tabib recited from Hafez Shirazi during the event. Asad Chowdhury also recited a couple of romantic poems written by him.
“Since the 12th century, Bangali Muslims have been influenced by (the) mysticism and Sufism of Iranian poets like Rumi, Hafiz, and Shirazi,” said Asad in his speech.
A documentary on Shab-e-Yalda was also screened at the event.
The house was filled with an audience eager about poetry and the Farsi language.
