TEHRAN -- For the first time in the 75-year history of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Iranian rain-making dolls have been exhibited at the commission’s 26th Congress in Marseille, France, showcasing the country’s traditional water-related rituals and indigenous cultural heritage to an international audience.
The exhibition attracted interest from participants and representatives of various countries, providing an opportunity to introduce Iran’s traditional rain-making dolls and the rituals associated with them.
Shima Kabiri represented Iran at the exhibition, presenting 19 rain-making dolls to attendees. The dolls were introduced as part of Iran’s cultural heritage and indigenous knowledge concerning water.
Kabiri explained that the dolls are closely associated with traditional rituals intended to invoke rainfall. They reflect the relationship between humans and nature, as well as the spiritual beliefs and cultural practices of local communities. By combining traditional dolls, ceremonial practices and indigenous water culture, the exhibition highlighted the historical and cultural significance of these traditions.
Following the exhibition, Iran’s rain-making dolls were also discussed at a meeting of the ICID Working Group on History of Water and Flood Management, where a report on the event was presented.
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