Iran fire festival leaves 11 dead, thousands injured

0
30

State media reports on  Wednesday said eleven people were killed and more than 3,500 injured during celebrations for Iran’s traditional fire festival ahead of the Persian New Year,.

 

The fire festival, called Chaharshanbe Suri in Farsi, is celebrated every year on the night of the last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year, which ends on March 20.

“Since February 20, 26 people have died in incidents related to Chaharchanbe Suri,” including at least 11 on the day of the event along with more than 3,550 injured, emergency services chief Jafar Miadfar told state television.

 

During the festival, participants jump over bonfires to purify themselves and ward off evil spirits, while chanting “I give you my yellow colour” (indicator of disease) and “I take your red colour” (symbol of life).

 

The festival is part of Iran’s pre-Islamic heritage and generally frowned upon by the Shiite clerical establishment.

 

But it is popular with young people, many of whom make their own fireworks for the event, a practice that sometimes results in injury or even death.

 

AFP

Previous articleSupreme Court dismisses suit against Plateau Labour Party’s guber ticket
Next articleRescuers search for Malawi cyclone victims
Francis Ogwo
The young and goal driven writer and cinematographer started his journalism as a print journalist in Kaduna in 2005 writing for Kaduna Chronicles Newspapers, Liberator Newspapers where he became the South Bureau Chief. In 2008, he moved into TV production with an employment into Siverbird Television and Rhythm Fm as a Correspondent. He got certified by Independent Television Producers Association of Nigeria(ITPAN) in 2009. After five years of hardwork and training, he was employed as Associate Producer, Moments With Mo and subsequently Producer, Playground on HipTV. Francis currently majors in documentaries and high profile scripts for news and movies. He is currently a Senior Contents Producer at News Central TV

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here