According to received information, the organizers of the "Pir Shalyar" ceremony have decided to cancel this year’s event in response to the killing of Kurdish citizens in the provinces of Ilam and Kermanshah, as well as in other cities of Iranian Kurdistan such as Dezful, Izeh, and Bakhtiari regions. By taking this decision, they sought to express solidarity with the victims and the grieving Kurdish communities.
The organizing council of the ceremony announced in a statement that, in order to protect its members from possible government reprisals, the cancellation was officially attributed to heavy snowfall, unfavorable economic and social conditions, and solidarity with the people of Syrian Kurdistan. However, according to a report published in one of the Iranian media outlets, the main reason behind the cancellation is the killing of protesters during the January 1404 protests and the prevailing atmosphere of mourning among bereaved families in Kurdistan.
The report states: “The main reason for canceling this year’s ceremony is the conditions we see in society today, especially given that a large number of our compatriots are in mourning. Had the situation been different, many guests might have been present in Hawraman this year. However, the organizers did not make this explicit and instead cited general social and economic conditions, as well as solidarity with the people of Syrian Kurdistan—who are also fighting ISIS—as the reasons for the cancellation.”
The Pir Shalyar wedding ceremony is a traditional ritual held every year in mid-February in the Hawraman region. In addition to local Kurdish participants, people from other parts of Iran and from abroad usually attend the event. The ceremony includes ritual chanting (dhikr), daf drumming, and the sacrifice of animals.
Held annually in February, the ceremony typically attracts many tourists from across Iran and other countries. It is deeply rooted in the ancient myths, beliefs, and rituals of Kurdistan and commemorates the legendary marriage of a mythical figure known as Pir Shalyar.
