TEHRAN, Iran — As a photographer capturing the essence of my hometown, Tehran, since 1999, I focus on Iran’s dynamic culture and its relationship with the West. But beyond politics, the vibrant street life of Tehran offers equally compelling stories.
One such vibrant moment is the celebration of the fire festival, known in Farsi as “Chaharshanbe Souri,” which precedes Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The festival takes place the evening before the last Wednesday of the old year. During this event, locals gather to light bonfires, enjoy fireworks, and release wish lanterns into the sky, creating a spectacle of light and color. The tradition involves participants jumping over flames while chanting, “My yellow is yours, your red is mine,” symbolizing the exchange of ailments for renewed energy.
The celebrations also include an Iranian twist on trick-or-treating. Residents go door to door and receive a holiday-specific mix of nuts and berries, often accompanied by buckets of water.
Capturing this on camera isn’t without its challenges. In Iran, some individuals, particularly women not adhering to the country’s mandatory hijab laws, are cautious about being photographed. Moreover, amid the enjoyment, there are safety risks; smoke envelops the air and fireworks unpredictably burst overhead. Each year, injuries and sometimes fatalities occur. Recently, part of a firecracker landed in my shoe, leaving only a small burn, but underscoring the atmosphere’s unpredictability.
To encapsulate the energy of the event, I relied on a flash for certain shots, freezing the moments as individuals leapt through flames against a twilight backdrop. One image particularly stood out to my editors—a man illuminated by the sparkling light of a firework against the stark silhouette of barren trees in a local park.
As Nowruz heralds the start of spring, Tehran will soon brim with renewed life, with trees budding anew and the cycle of nature continuing.
