Mehraban Poolad Museum of Documents and Manuscripts in Yazd hosted Dr. Mir Jalaleddin Kazzazi, a prominent figure of Iranian culture and literature.
On Tuesday, 30th Azar, 1402 (19 December 2023) Dr Mir Jalaleddin Kazzazi, Shahnameh scholar, and prominent researcher of Persian language and literature, accompanied by Alireza Habibi, deputy of the country’s Cultural Honors Association, and Dr. Hossein Masrat, university professor, author, and prominent librarian of Yazd, paid a visit to the museum of documents and manuscripts, belonging to Mehraban Poolad. In this museum, part of the documents and manuscripts of Arbab Mehraban Poolad, one of the prominent merchants, and a popular religious, political and social figure of the Zoroastrian community, during Qajar and Pahlavi periods, were exhibited. This treasure was collected through the efforts of Mobed Mehraban Pooladi, a Ph.D. student in ancient languages and culture and a descendant of “Arbab Mehraban Poolad” through seven years.
The museum was opened by the efforts of one of Mehraban Poolad’s descendants, who is also his namesake, and with its own expense, in Bamasi Alley, one of the main streets in the Zoroastrian neighborhoods (between the Verahram fire temple and Rostam Guiv reservoir). In this museum, old and handwritten copies of Avesta and dozens of letters in commercial, political, and Avesta are exhibited, and along with precious documents and manuscripts, photos of some important places of the zoroastrian community, such as schools, and also photos of a few leaders of the Zoroastrian society are exhibited. Also, an effort has been made to show some of Zoroastrian customs and traditions, such as holding festivals, ceremonies, and chants in connection with monthly celebrations, so that visitors can get to know the culture of the followers of Zoroastrianism. The history of the building (turned into museum) dates back to the Safavid period, and after some repair and renovation was prepared for the museum. A ceremony hall, coin and stamps room, the room with a well in it, photography room, tea house, kitchen with traditional food being served, and a shop are part of this Zoroastrian museum, in Yazd. Visiting this museum makes the audience more familiar with the ancestors’ customs, traditions, and culture through recorded images. This museum can be of help to researchers in this field.
This museum received a license from the Cultural Heritage Organization to start working in 2015, and it began its work as the first museum of documents and manuscripts in Yazd province in the Zoroastrian neighborhood. On Esfand 13, 1400, the Museum of Documents and Manuscripts was opened with the presence of the Deputy Minister of Tourism of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.
