ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Villages in western Iran's Kurdistan province embraced a popular walnut festival for the second year in a row, an event aimed at promoting the Kurdish regoin's organic and fresh fruit for visitors from near and afar.
The one-day festival was held on Friday in the villages of Balchasur and Mamwala, in Komasi area, known as the “walnut capital” of Sanandaj city. It aimed to promote local produce and strengthen community ties among locals.
“This is the second year of the festival, and it has been received well and was really good," Bahar Saeedpour, a vendor at the festival said. "Last year’s festival was a family-only event. Looks like this year the festival is even more successful."
Saeedpour said the villagers "prepared a variety of local products, like walnuts and kulera [a type of flatbread], for people.”
Event organizer Ibrahim Rahimi said the festival also aimed to introduce the region's rich culture and abundant produce to people from across the country and beyond.
“The festival showcases our culture and traditions. I hope it contributes to the development of cultural and social life in the area and helps foster unity," Rahimi said.
The organizer added the objective was to "introduce our walnuts and other products to people in Marivan [in Sanandaj] and beyond Iran so that the quality and uniqueness of our walnuts, along with our culture, become known worldwide.”
In addition to walnuts, the festival also featured local handicrafts made by locals.
Kijan Saeedpour, a festival goer from Marivan, another city from Kurdistan province, said they were having a good time at the festival.
“I am from Marivan but have come to the village of Balchasur to attend the festival. Many people are here and having a good time," she said. "We thank people for coming. I love festivals like this because women, men, and children all take part, and through it we can help promote our village.”
Kurdistan Province ranks second in Iran in walnut production, with 11,000 hectares of walnut orchards yielding about 29,000 tons annually. A portion of the harvest is sold to other provinces in the Kurdish regions, the country in general, and abroad.
