Thousands Of Iranians Visit Persepolis, Ancient Seat Of Monarchy

Images and videos posted online show large crowds of people visiting Persepolis, the ancient seat of Achaemenid kings, and the royal Sa'dabad Palace in Tehran during Norouz holidays.

Thousands celebrated the moment of the beginning of the Iranian New Year at Persepolis on Wednesday morning. Despite the strict measures by the Iranian regime and the coincidence of Norouz and the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan, many Iranians danced and rejoiced in this historical venue in southern Iran to celebrate the New Year.

Ettela’at Online news website described as “unprecedented” the presence of people at Persepolis. Mohammad Sabet Eghlidi, Director General of Tourism Department at Fars province, announced that more than 10,000 people, including tourists, attended the New Year’s celebration at Persepolis.

Over the past decades, the Iranian government has systematically tried to distance people from the pre-Islamic traditions, rituals and cultural heritage. It has frequently banned people from visiting the Pasargadae and Persepolis, ancient sites dating back to the Achaemenid Empire, on Cyrus the Great Day.

The coincidence of Nowruz and Ramadan this year has prompted the Islamic Republic to step up its harsh measures against those opting for a different lifestyle and worldview than those endorsed by the regime. On Thursday, Iran’s deputy interior minister for security affairs said Nowruz travelers eating in public will be punished. “The sacredness of Ramadan must be respected,” stressed Majid Mirahmadi.

Meanwhile, photos from Iran in the past four days show thousands of people waiting in long lines to enter the Sa'dabad Palace, one of the main residences of Iran's last king, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. During the Norouz holidays last year, the Sa'dabad Palace was declared the most visited historical site in the Iranian capital city Tehran.

The Islamic Republic has tried in vain to spread a negative picture of the Pahlavi dynasty and reduce their popularity.