Int'l Qur'an Festivals To Be Held In 22 Provinces, 22 Countries: Iran Min.

Tehran, Jan 1, IRNA – Culture and Islamic Guidance Minister Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini said that the 2nd international Qur'an festivals will be held simultaneously in 22 Iranian provinces and 22 foreign countries by the end of the current Iranian year. Addressing a press conference Monday, he added that the festivals will open concurrent with the start of Unity Week, January 24, and will end in a ceremony at Vahdat Hall on February 7. Such festivals will bring together Qur'an reciters and artists, he said, adding that the motto of this year's festivals is 'Art, Man and Qur'an'. The minister further noted that the festivals will include Qur'anic script writing, impact of Qur'an on public culture, Qur'anic digital and written publications, Qur'anic weblogging, Qur'anic tales, Qur'anic software, Qur'anic carpet tableaux and Qur'anic theater. Seminars on Qur'anic themes will also be held on the sidelines of the festivals. The festivals will be held in 31 countries next year, he said./end