In a world where politics and economy fuel division among humans, it is only literature which can bring mankind together, observed a Brazilian literary figure Paulo Quilo in a video message to a ceremony to mark Christmas in Turkey.
According to MNA, the ceremony, which was attended by Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertugrul Gunay, also commemorated Molana Jalaleddin Rumi, well-known Iranian mystic and poet.
The festival titled ’Symphonic Poetry of Alchemist, Molana’ was sponsored by Istanbul’s Artistic Exhibitions Center with the aim of promoting unity among religions.
The event also reviewed the religious and spiritual aspects of works created by Molana and Quilo.
In his address, the minister discussed Molana’s religious perspectives and said that Molana considered himself a devotee of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in service of the holy Qur’an.
He further said, “As the Year of Molana draws to a close, we also celebrate conclusion of the year.“
UN cultural agency UNESCO designated 2007 as the ’Year of Molana’.
Meanwhile, the message of Quilo, writer of ’Alchemist’, said that he has been reading Molana’s works since his youth.
“I was so engrossed in Molana’s works that I can easily understand his language and ideas,“ he said.

A collection of ancient draperies used in the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Imam of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) infallible household, was unveiled in the Anthropology Museum of Astan-e Qods Razavi Foundation.
A press release faxed to Iran Daily by the Libraries, Museums Organization and Documents Center of Astan-e Qods Razavi Foundation quoted the curator of the museum, Majid Reza Mehrdoust as saying that the objects, which date back to the Safavid (1502-1736) and the Qajar (1796-1925) eras, are considered among the artistic and spiritual artworks.
In addition to featuring objects pertaining to anthropology, the museum also displays ancient photos on jobs, such as shepherding, which are now extinct, he said.
Since the museum was housed in Mehdi Qoli-Beik Public Bath from the Safavid period, it also features Islamic architecture of the era.
A collection of samovars, Gelims, Jajims and teahouse paintings are on display in the museum.
Astan-e Qods Razavi Foundation is the custodian of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province.

Imam Ali (AS)

First exhibition of music and audio works, whose prime coordinator is the noted Iranian vocalist Abdolhossein Mokhtabad, will be held at the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults from December 28 to January 4.
According to Fars news agency, Mokhtabad said while speaking at a press conference on the event that one of the objectives of the exhibit is to determine the capacities of music as an art.
He further said that music is the most neglected branch of art and the government wants to deprive it of even the minimum assistance extended to the sector.
For this reason, the second goal of the event would be to draw the government’s attention to the sector.
“We also want to convey that music is an industry which can help ease unemployment,“ he added.
Stating that no subsidies are earmarked to music, the vocalist said that a sum of 130 billion rials is allocated in subsidies to the book sector whereas not only is the music sector deprived of this but its annual budget does not even exceed two million dollars. This is a shame for national art, he complained.
Dealing with copyright law is another objective of the event, he said, stating that the failure to comply with this has placed the music industry on the verge of bankruptcy.

A number of researchers believe that Christmas Day corresponds to the Iranian celebration ’Night of Yalda’, or the longest night of the year (December 21), which signifies the end to darkness and entry into the world of sun and light.
According to Fars news agency, although the Christians are divided about the exact date of Jesus Christ’s (AS) birth, most of his followers observe December 25 as his birthday.
Traditions pertaining to Christmas have also been through changes over the centuries. However, many maintain that Santa Claus, a legendary figure associated with Christmas, makes Christians happy with the gifts on this day. This idea was also inspired by the Iranian ’Uncle Norouz’.
Christ is one of the greatest prophets of God whose stories are mentioned in the holy Qur’an.

Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson, whose early talent, speedy fingers and musical genius made him one of the world’s best known jazz pianists, has died. He was 82.
According to AP, Peterson died at his home in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga on Sunday. The cause of death was kidney failure, said Mississauga’s mayor, Hazel McCallion.
During an illustrious career spanning seven decades, Peterson played with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Dizzy Gillespie.
Peterson’s impressive collection of awards include all of Canada’s highest honors, such as the Order of Canada, as well as a Lifetime Grammy (1997) and a spot in the International Jazz Hall of Fame.
His growing stature was reflected in the admiration of his peers. Duke Ellington referred to him as “Maharajah of the keyboard,“ while Count Basie once said “Oscar Peterson plays the best ivory box I’ve ever heard.“
Herbie Hancock, another legendary jazz pianist, said Peterson’s impact was profound.
Born on Aug. 15, 1925, in a poor neighborhood southwest of Montreal, Peterson obtained a passion for music from his father. He learned to play trumpet and piano at a young age, but after a bout with tuberculosis had to concentrate on the latter.
Peterson suffered a stroke in 1993 that weakened his left hand, but not his passion or drive for music. As he grew older, Peterson kept playing and touring, despite worsening arthritis and difficulties walking.

Central Library of Astan-e Qods Razavi Foundation is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, observed Kyrgyz Ambassador to Iran Medetkan Sherimkulov during a visit to Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province.
A press release faxed to Iran Daily by the Libraries, Museums Organization and Documents Center of Astan-e Qods Razavi Foundation said that Sherimkulov arrived in the city to identify the province’s cultural and economic potentials.
After visiting the library, he said, “Central Library of Astan-e Qods is one of the greatest libraries of the Islamic world both in terms of antiquity and information databanks in 70 languages.“
Researchers in the Islamic world should be able to use the library, he noted.
There are many libraries in Kyrgyzstan which are interested in cooperation with the library through the exchange of manuscripts.
Central Library maintains 78,000 manuscripts, 45,000 lithography and 1,200,000 typography books.
Astan-e Qods Foundation is the custodian of the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth infallible Imam of the household of holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Winners of the First Nationwide Story Writing Festival were announced on Monday. According to MNA, the stories ’And the Trees Wept’ written by Mehdi Zare and ’O Shrine’ by Atiyeh Javadi, jointly won the first prize.
The second award went to ’Morning Lion’ by Nasibeh Fazlollahi, ’Belt’ by Khosrow Abbasi-Khodlan and ’Tattooed Scorpion’ by Fatemeh Ja’farian.
Eight works, namely ’Hey, I Am Here’ by Ariya Yaqoubzadeh and ’Photo CafŽ’ by Vahideh Ebrahimzadeh, received the third prize.
The panel of jury for the award included Ali Khodaei, Aboutorab Khosravi and Belqeis Soleimani.

Police forces in Dezful, Khuzestan province have discovered 45 historical artifacts pertaining to the Ashkanid (226-651 AD) and Elamite (2700-539 BC) eras.
Announcing this, Mehdi Mohammadizadeh, head of Dezful Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Office told CHN that the artifacts include seven clay vats, a number of glass and clay beads and two brick inscriptions resembling bricks found in Choghazanbil Ziggurat in Shoush, Khuzestan province.
He added that there are about 15 to 20 goddesses among the relics which are damaged and only a 16-centimeter goddess is intact.
Mohammadizadeh further said that the objects were delivered to the provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department for safekeeping and further studies.

A total of 3,442 works from 57 publications were reviewed in 12 categories for the upcoming Eighth Children and Young Adults Press Festival, which will be held in the Cultural Artistic Creativities Center of the Institute for Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults (IIDCYA) from December 28-January 2.
According to a press release faxed to Iran Daily by the Public Relations Department of the institute, secretary of the event, Jafar Ebrahimi (Shahed) said that 430 works in the story section, 675 in poetry, 140 in translation, 195 in scientific, 302 in audience’s poetry and stories, 190 in comic strip, 374 in report and news, 400 in critiques and article, 450 notes and articles, 154 caricatures and 57 graphic designs were reviewed for the event.
At the inaugural ceremony, the best works of 2005 and 2006 will be announced, he noted.
Referring to the trend of earlier rounds of the festival, he further said, unlike past years, plaques of honor will no longer be presented to the winners who will only receive golden plaques and diplomas of honor this time around.
According to the panel of jury, a considerable increase has been observed in the number of works for the audience stories section and attention to social themes and satire is evident in them, Ebrahimi concluded.

Persian translation of ’Perpetual Orgy’ by Mario Vargas Iosa and ’Trojan Women’ by Seneca were published by Niloufar Publishing House after a two-year waiting period for publishing permit.
According to ISNA, the books were translated by Abdollah Kowsari.
Iosa has analyzed ’Madame Bovary’ by Gustave Flaubert in his ’Perpetual Orgy’.
The book ’Trojan Women’ was published by Farda-ye Isfahan but has not yet been distributed.
Meanwhile, ’Latin American Short Stories’ translated by Kowsari, which was earlier published in two volumes, will be reprinted in one volume by Ney Publishing House.

Iranian Christians buy special gifts and cards to mark Christmas.