Shiraz Bazaar

[ Bazarcheh Shiraz ]

Unemployment and underemployment was a fact of life. Many male and female laborers struggled all their lives not to get ahead, but to merely scrape by. So the streets were filled with hordes of vendors selling the food of the poor: baked beets and turnips, and, during the winter: fereni (Persian sweet milk cream).

I was not allowed to eat the goodies in public. Again this was the sort of lower-class behavior that my mother found embarrassing.

I felt bad for the food vendors, always teary-eyed and frowning in the clouds of steam and smoke that rose from the food and the wood fires they cooked over. Now I am nostalgic for the smell of that simple food and the simple, humble people that struggled to make the best of what fate had handed them.

بازارچه شیراز

[ شیراز بازار ]

بسیاری از مردم در تلاش روزانه خود هدفشان بدست آوردن در آمد سرشار نبود و فقط به گذارند ن زندگی روزمرۀ خود فکر میکردند.گوشه هر خیابانی فروشندگانی بودند که غذاهای ارزان نظیر شلغم و لبوپخته که مورد استفاده طبقات فقیر بود عرضه می کردند. در فصل زمستان فرنی تهیّه شده از شیرو شکر فروخته میشد.

ما اجازه نداشتیم از این غذاها استفاده کنیم.

من همیشه برای این فروشندگان و چهرهای محزون آنها که میان بخار برخاسته از اجاقشان دیده میشد احساس ترحّم میکردم. اکنون پس از گذشت سالها برای آن غذا ها و مردم ساده و متواضعی که برای گذران زندگی تلاش میکردند احساس دلتنگی میکنم.

Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

At that time, the market in Shiraz was busy, crowded. Vendors shouted from all directions. Shouting was the only method to introduce the merchandise. Some specific foods were cooked and carried on a specific cart. Steamed beets were very delicious, but we children were not supposed to have them outside of the home. It was another sign of lower social-class.

در آن روزها بازار شیراز شلوغ و پر جمعیّت بود و از هر گوشه آن صدای فریاد فروشندگان شنیده می شد. فریاد کشیدن تنها شیوه ای بود که فروشندگان برای عرضه کالاهای خود در اختیار داشتند. بعضی محصولات بصورت پخته و در چرخهای مخصوص حمل می شد. لبو ی پخته یکی از آنها بود که بسیار خوشمزه بود. آمّا ما بچّه ها اجازه نداشتیم آنها را در خارج از خانه مصرف کنیم که خود نشانه ای دیگر از تفاوتهای طبقاتی بود.

Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

Donkeys had a major role in transferring fruits. Pomegranates, figs, watermelons, and “beh” (quinces) were the fruits carried by donkeys. The owner alerted the people just by shouting out advertisements. Bartering was very common and sometimes it ended in an argument.

برای حمل و نقل میوه ها در بازار از الاغ استفاده می شد، میوه هائی نظیر انار، انجیر، هندوانه و بِه بر پشت الاغ حمل می شد و صاحبان آنها برای آگاهی مردم با فریاد هشدار می دادند. چانه زدن برای تخفیف یک عادت عمومی بود که گاهی هم به مشاجره می کشید.

Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

Dizi (meat plus fat, onion, tomato sauce, potatoes, and garbanzo beans) was another food served in public. The smell was so tempting and we children wished to have Dizi and it never, ever happened. It was for laborers.

دیزی (مخلوطی از گوشت و دنبه باپیاز ،رب گوجه، سیب زمینی ،نخود و لوبیا) یکی دیگر از غذاهائی بودند که در این بازار عرضه می شد. بوی آن بسیار اشتها آور بود و ما کودکان همواره آرزو ی خوردن دیزی داشتیم، آرزوئی که هرگز واقعیّت نیافت.

Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

Food was served even at night The oil lamps gave light to those plates full of bread soaked in gravy. The best part was mashed potatoes, lamb meat and garbanzos together in a small metal container.

منظره نان خرد و خیس شده در آبگوشت دیزی حتّی در شب و در پرتو نور شمعها جلوه خاصّی داشت، بهترین بخش غذا، مخلوط کوبیده، گوشت و لوبیا بود که در یک ظرف فلزٌی کوچکی روی سفره قرار می گرفت.

Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.
Shiraz bazaar depicted in diorama by Niccu Tafarrodi, recalling her childhood memories of Shiraz, Iran, RememberingPersia.com.

One third of Iran is desert, but the people are flower lovers. All kinds of flowers are raised in northern Iran and distributed all over the country. Shiraz, although famous for its roses and daffodils, imported flowers from other cities.

یک سوّم خاک ایران از کویر تشکیل شده است، امّا مردم عاشق گل هستند.

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Other dioramas in the category of Marketplaces in Iran

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