Shiraz, April 19, IRNA
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad returned to Tehran on Thursday night after the ceremonies marking the commemoration of great Iranian poet, Mosleheddin Saadi Shirazi, ended in Shiraz.
President Ahmadinejad and his entourage left Tehran for Shiraz on Thursday afternoon to attend the commemoration ceremonies of Iranian poet and philosopher Sa'di Shirazi.
Several Iranian and foreign officials, poets, writers and philosophers were also present at the ceremonies held at the mausoleum of the renowned Iranian poet.
The works of Iranian calligraphers of Fars province and an invaluable and unique book of poems of Sa'di dating back to the Safavid era (1501-1732 AD) will be displayed during the ceremonies.
Presidential aide, Mojtaba Samareh-Hashemi, Vice President for Executive Affairs, Hamid Baqaee, and head of the Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, Seyyed Hassan Mousavi are accompanying President Ahmadinejad during his visit to Shiraz.
Sa,di's best known works include Bustan (The Orchard) completed in 1257 and Gulistan (The Rose Garden) in 1258. Bustan is entirely in verse (epic metre) and consists of stories aptly illustrating the standard virtues recommended to Muslims (justice, liberality, modesty, contentment) as well as of reflections on the behavior of dervishes and their ecstatic practices. Gulistan is mainly in prose and contains stories and personal anecdotes. The text is interspersed with a variety of short poems, containing aphorisms, advice, and humorous reflections. Sa'di demonstrates a profound awareness of the absurdity of human existence.
© IRNA 2012
