Over One Million Visitors to Iran's Historical Sites by April 3; Hafezieh and Persepolis Lead the List

According to an official from the Islamic Republic, historical sites such as 'Hafezieh, Persepolis, Saadiyeh,' and the Saadabad Palace and Fin Garden have ranked as the top destinations for Nowruz visits by Iranians from various parts of the country until April 3 this year. Ezzatollah Zarghami, the Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, wrote on social media platform X that by the end of the third day of Farvardin, one million 177 thousand 375 individuals visited 259 museums and historical sites, with the five mentioned locations at the top of this list. Gatherings at historical sites, including Hafez's tomb in Shiraz and Persepolis, have sparked reactions among social media users. The account 'Iran Plateau' on X shared Nowruz images from Persepolis, reminding that 'Iranians have been visiting this ancient site for Nowruz for 2500 years.' Kianoush Sanjari, a journalist, implicitly compared the presence of people at Persepolis with some government ceremonies that involve significant budgets and extensive facilities, emphasizing that 'Persepolis does not have tents, free food, accommodation, pilgrimage headquarters, buses, parking, etc.' Another user noted the busy atmosphere at Persepolis, stating that 'all religious institutions of the Islamic Republic have tried with billion-dollar budgets to prevent this event, but they still failed.' Nima Afsharnaderi, a journalist, also pointed out the orderliness and respect for driving laws by visitors at Persepolis, referring to them as the 'stylish generation of Pasargad.' He said, 'You can see empathy, cooperation, and coexistence. In the line at Persepolis, cars are orderly in a single line. No one is cutting in or changing lanes.' Zahra Keshvari, a cultural heritage journalist, also referred to the 'busy Nowruz at Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rustam,' recalling that Shahryar Adl, an archaeologist, registered Naqsh-e Jahan, Chogha Zanbil, and Persepolis at his own expense in 1979. Another user described the orderly line of cars at Persepolis's entrance as 'full of beauty,' emphasizing, 'Long live Iran!' The continued extensive visits to historical and ancient sites in Iran coincide with a significant number of citizens gathering at historical and cultural sites and in public spaces in some cities to dance and celebrate during the New Year. Additionally, videos sent to Voice of America and shared on social media depict gatherings and celebrations in various cities across Iran. Nowruz 1403 coincides with the lunar month of Ramadan, during which eating and drinking in public between dawn and dusk is prohibited in Iran and is considered 'eating during fasting without a valid reason,' deemed a 'forbidden act' under Islamic Republic laws, which can lead to punishments including flogging. In this context, reports indicate that some food service establishments in Iran have been shut down during these days. Furthermore, officials from the Social Democratic Party in Hamburg held Nowruz celebrations without representatives from the Islamic Republic and Afghanistan.