Rose and Rose Water Festival in Kashan
Damask Rose is deeply connected with Persian culture. They call it Muhammad flower, which is named after Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It grows in different parts of Iran such as Meymand in Fars, Azerbaijan, Yazd, Qamsar, Niasar and the most importantly, Kashan in Isfahan province.
The festival
An annual spring festival is held in Kashan during mid April to mid May under the name of Rose and Rose Water, which gathers hundreds of tourists from Iran and abroad to watch, admire, enjoy and of course purchase the heavenly flower. Besides the natural and historical beauty of the neighborhood is always available to explore. In Ordibehesht (= like heaven) which equals mid April-mid May, Kashan is all covered with delicate pink rose gardens. The view drowns you in itself, the scent drowns you in dreams, your spirit blossoms!
The whole process of obtaining the rose water is also done in a modern industrial method in Iran; yet the very concept of this festival is to display the traditional and ceremonial manner, which has been taking place for centuries. Families and relatives gather together and accomplished each phase after the other, from picking to extracting the essence, and spice them with special traditions; parties and songs, celebrations and musics. Their occupation is their life, their life is a delight.
The process of extracting rose water
Here’s how Golab (Gol+Ab = Flower+Water), which is the Persian word for rose water, is extracted: There are lots of huge copper pots on traditional ovens made of bricks, clay and wood; with metal pipes installed on the lids of the pots that turn into one bigger pipe running to a storage that holds all the vapor gained from boiling the flower petals with water. Afterwards, they make the vapor touches a cold metal surface, then it turns into a liquid which is the rose water.
Usage
Drink
Having it as a drink is obviously the first usage . They add water, sugar and preferably ice to it and make the most soothing beverage. Various kinds of drinks are made by adding other herbal waters and/or herbs. It's also possible to add it to different types of teas to have a pleasing hot beverage.
Flavor
They add it as a flavor to foods and most of the desserts and sweets like Sholle zard, Halva, Baqlava, Qottab, Sohan, Gaz, Faloudeh, and etc. and serve the best dishes.
Perfume
Another usage of this wonderful elixir for Persians is to use it as a perfume to enhance the scent of themselves, their homes, their belongings, their loved ones and places. Specially that the Persian Golab is proudly used to wash the most holy place for muslems, the Kaaba in Mecca, every year.
Skincare
Surprisingly rose water is one of the friendliest products towards the skin. It freshens, whitens and cleans the skin and heals acne, eczema and redness.
Decor
The rose flowers and blossoms are also used as decorations in order to make lovelier houses, individually or combined with other handicrafts.
Medicine
Of course, if one utilizes it in certain amounts and dozes, it can play the role of a medicine as a cure for example the flu, cold, sore throat, stress and depression.
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