Traditional Grocer

[ Bazarche Sonnati ]

In Persia, water is a sign of light and peace and a goldfish is a sign of motivation and agility. In many homes, there was a pond of blue tiles.

We hunkered over a similar pond in the middle of the bazaar to play with the goldfish being sold. People and animals of all types passed by. The air smelled of dried spices, rose water and ripe fruits. The heaps of saffron glowed under the dusty light from wood roof far above us.

During the summer, eggplants were sold everywhere because one could eat them in so many ways: stews, dips, pickles. The most expensive items were strawberries and blackberries, which the vendors arranged impeccably in small straw baskets for the very well off.

Today, I have all the Persian saffron I need for my cooking, but regardless of the quality, somehow it never smells and tastes the way it used to.

بازارچه سنّتی

[ تِرَ دیشِنال با زار ]

در ايران آب نشانه صلح و آرامش و ماهي طلايي نشانهُ حيات، حركت و شتاب است. در بسياري از خانه ها در آن زمان حوضي با كاشي هاي آبي پر ازماهي به چشم ميخو رد.

در بازارها هم حوض هائي به همان شكل ديده مي شد كه پر از ماهي براي فروش بودند. بازارها مملو از تردٌد آدم ها و حيوانات گوناگون اهلي بود. عطر ادويه جات و گلاب و زعفران در آ فضا پراكنده بود.

در طول تابستان بادمجان مصارف زيادي در انواع غذاها و ترشیجات داشت. ميوه هائي مانند توت فرنگي و توت سياه در سبدهای کوچک و ظریف عرضه مي شد كه بعلّت گران بودن اشخاص مرفّه قادر به خريد آنها بودند.

اين روزها كه من انواع بسته هاي زعفران را در مصرف غذا استفاده ميكنم هيچگاه نميتوانم عطرو طعم زعفران هاي آن دوران را باحال مقايسه کنم.

The Iranian woman's struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
The Iranian woman’s struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

The shop keeper was always happy and energetic. The fruits were shiny and looked delicious. For favored customers, the shopper had special fruits hidden under the counter or at the back of the store. Rich customers got special treatment. Since they never cared about the price, they made their social and economical class obvious.

مغازه دار همیشه شادو سر حال بنطر میرسد. میوه ها همه بّراق هستند و اشتها را تحریک می کنند. او برای مشتریان قدیمی خود میوههای بهتری در زیر پیشخوان و یا در پستوی مغازه پنهان کرده است. مشتریان قدیمی از احترام خاصّی بر خور دارند. آنها هرگز در باره قیمت چانه نمی زنند و این نشانه ای از وضعیّت بالای اجتماعی و اقتصادی آنها ست.

The Iranian woman's struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
The Iranian woman’s struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

Fruits are eaten as desert and snacks in Iran. Shiraz was famous for the best limes and lemons. The other fruits usually were shipped from Esfahan. Every fruit shop looked like a rainbow to me, as colorful, shiny, aromatic, and delicious.

میوه در ایران به عنوان دِ سِر بعد از غذا و یا بعنوان تنقّلات مصرف می شود. شهر شیراز بخاطر داشتن لیموی شیرین و ترش شهرت خاصّی دارد. سایر میوه ها معمولاً از اصفهان وارد می شد. هر مغازهُ میوه فروشی با میوه های رنگارنگ، پاکیزه، معطّرو خوشمزه بشکل یک رنگین کمان جلوه می کرد.

The Iranian woman's struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
The Iranian woman’s struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

Attari is a kind of spice store. It is organized well, much like an apothecary. The main materials that the store is expected to offer: saffron, rose water, dried plums, tea, sugar and sugar-rock, orange blossom water and dried orange blossom (to give essence to tea).

مغازه های عطّاری هم از مغازه های دیگری بودند که ظا هر مرتّب و زیبائی داشتند. محصولاتی که معموًاُ در این مغازه ها عرضه می شد عبارت بودند از زعفران، گلاب ،آلو ی خشک، چای، شکر، کلّه قند، عطر گل نارنج و همچنین گلهای خشک نارنج (برای معطّر شدن چای).

The Iranian woman's struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
The Iranian woman’s struggles and hardships depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

A tea-house (ghahve khane) served tea at the corner of the market. The gigantic samovar was always hot to provide water to brew tea. Everyone, rich or poor, enjoy and demand tea in Iran.

در ایران همه از پولدار و فقیر عاشق نوشیدن چای و خواستار آن هستند.

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Other dioramas in the category of Marketplaces in Iran

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