Kurdish village revives rosewater festival to preserve generations-old heritage
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A village in Iran’s Kurdish-majority western region (Rojhelat) is preparing to host its traditional rosewater extraction festival early this summer after a brief hiatus, seeking to preserve ancient techniques that have been passed down through generations.
Hamrola, a village near Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan province, has hosted the festival twice in recent years to boost local income and encourage the expansion of its rose gardens.
"This year, we are in the process of obtaining the necessary permits to host the festival once again," said Burhan Hidayati, the headman of Hamrola village, adding that "the festival aims to raise the profile of Hamrola and introduce the village to a wider audience."
Locals told Rudaw that they continue to rely on traditional harvesting and distillation techniques passed down from their ancestors.
"The cultivation of roses in Hamrola dates back around 150 years," said Faraidoon Tari Muradi, a village resident. "For nearly a century and a half, our ancestors have grown roses here and produced rosewater using authentic traditional methods. Today, we continue the practices they passed down to us, preserving and further developing this heritage."
Meanwhile, Rubaba Khani, another local said, "I have lived here for 30 years, and throughout that time, rosewater extraction has always been part of village life. I learned the craft from my mother-in-law."
She added that while production was once carried out entirely using traditional methods, she now uses a machine she purchased herself.
This year’s festival comes amid expanding flower cultivation across Rojhelat.
Kurdistan province currently produces around 350 tons of roses annually. However, the Sanandaj Agriculture Department expects output to increase this year, citing higher rainfall and favorable growing conditions.
Zhila As’ad contributed to this story from Erbil, Kurdistan Region.
