Dotār have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative Intangible Heritage list.

One of the richest aspects of Iran’s culture is its music. Made up of several different types, Persian music reflects the richness of its diversity and echoes its present and past history. Depending on which region of the country you visit, you will be sure to hear the sounds of traditional and modern musical instruments permeating the air.

Iran has been compiling files to register a number of its musical instruments with UNESCO over the past year as intangible cultural heritages. More recently, traditional skills of crafting and playing Iranian musical instrument Dotār have been inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative Intangible Heritage list.

Dotar is a folkloric plucked musical instrument with a pear-shaped bow crafted with dried wood or mulberry tree, a neck made of apricot or walnut wood, and two strings. While playing, the players recount epic, historical, lyric and moral narrations that are central to their ethnic history, pride and identity.  While you’re in Iran, don’t miss Isfahan Music Museum, where showcasing over 300 traditional Iranian musical instruments in a sleek gallery.

Watch this video to experience that music can teach us about heavenly beauty.

Polo: An Iranian Sport on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage

 While the sport of polo is older than recorded history, we know that its origins are in the inspirational relationship between humans and horses. The art of polo is distinctly Persian and it is thought to have originated in Persia over 2000 years ago. The special bond and the unique blending of athletic talents between horse and rider have helped polo evolve into The Sport of Kings. Game played on horseback between two teams of four players each who use mallets with long, flexible handle to drive a wooden ball down a grass field and between two goal posts. The match is divided into chukkas, each lasting 7 minutes, with an interval of 3 minutes between each one. The object of Polo is for a team to score more points than its opposition, thus winning the game. Each team attempts to move the ball into the opposition's half of the pitch with the aim of eventually hitting it through the goal to score. Each team of four is made up of attackers and defenders, but realistically all members of a polo team are expected to be flexible and make any play whether offensive or defensive and change position as necessary to benefit the team. Today, the oldest of equestrian sports is finding a shiny, new vitality among the young people in the whole world. We are so thrilled to announce that, Polo has been officially registered as an Iranian sport on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage in December 2017. 

Two polo teams are competing with each other in Naqshe jahan Square of Isfahan, Iran

The heaven on Qashqai Rugs.

As a person who is interested in carpets and handicrafts, while gazing at the coherent composition and the mad colors of a Qashqai rug, I ask myself what is this masterpiece if  not a piece of abstract art?

A colorful Qashqai rug.

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