Iran’s Fire Festival Saw 11 Fatalities And Hundreds More Injuries.

In the run-up to Iran’s annual fire festival, which marks the beginning of the Persian New Year, 11 people were reported dead and more than 3,500 wounded, according to official media on Wednesday.

The night of the last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year, which finishes on March 20, is when the fire festival, known in Persian as Chaharshanbe Suri, is observed.

According to emergency services commander Jafar Miadfar, “Since February 20, 26 people have died in events linked to Chaharchanbe Suri,” including at least 11 on the day of the event and more than 3,550 wounded.

During the celebration, people leap over bonfires while saying “I give you my yellow color” (an sign of sickness) and “I take your red color” to cleanse oneself and fend off bad spirits (symbol of life).

The celebration, which is a part of pre-Islamic Iran, is often despised by the Shia religious hierarchy.

Yet, it is well-liked among young people, many of whom create their own fireworks for the occasion, a pastime that sometimes causes harm or even death.