Daughters of Iran Khanom

Daughters of Iran Khanom is another book by Nasser Yousefi. This collection consists of seven retold Iranian legends, all featuring female protagonists. In this book, Yousefi brings together seven legendary girls, retelling their stories for children. Choosing seven stories and seven female characters in a society like Iran is a bold and courageous act.

Creating Daughters of Iran Khanom was a social movement, not just a literary project. In a society where girls are often overlooked and marginalized, I wanted to highlight the social roles of girls in Iranian culture. These girls find solutions, take initiative, make choices, drive change, act independently, and inspire others. Our daughters have played such roles in real life, and through this book, I wanted to document and celebrate this cultural and social narrative authentically. The presence of girls brings life and vitality. Their influence benefits not just men and women but enriches life itself.

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 The Daughters of Iran Khanom Celebration was one of the most unique book promotion events that introduced Iranian legends. Organized in collaboration with the Story and Legend Bookshop and the Child Workshop Publishing House, this event symbolically introduced children to legendary Iranian girls.

Seven girls embodied the roles of these legendary characters in a theatrical performance. For the first time, children had the chance to meet these characters in person, seeing figures like Mah Pishani, Namaki, Narenj and Toranj, and Golkhandan brought to life. Each character occupied a part of the Story and Legend Bookshop, and children visited them individually, participating in themed workshops.

The workshops were designed to explore each character's symbolic traits:

• Golkhandan representing environmental care
• Namaki symbolizing empathy
• Nabat reflecting wisdom and problem-solving

This imaginative and interactive event offered children a fresh perspective on Iranian folklore.

Mah Pishani, one of Iran's legendary girls, symbolizes kindness and generosity. Various versions of her story exist, but Yousefi's retelling is crafted for young children. In a collaborative call to artists by the Story and Legend Bookshop, over a hundred artists created dolls and figurines of Mah Pishani. A grand exhibition showcased these creations, accompanied by storytelling sessions, theatrical performances, and discussions tailored for children, teenagers, teachers, and educators. Later, The exhibition travelled to other cities, showcasing Mah Pishanies nationwide.

This collective effort marked the first large-scale artistic representation of an Iranian folktale character, allowing children to connect with the legend visually.

The Daughters of Iran Khanom characters are inspired by their art-making and artistic creations. Various artisans and workshops, like the Golkhandan Workshop in Babol, designed and produced dolls representing Namaki, Narenj a,oranj, and Kadoo Ghelghele Zan.

The Mah and Mehr Institute also designed a fabric bag inspired by the Narenj and Toranj story. At the same time, the 13 Aban Women’s Cooperative Workshop created Mah Pishani dolls, finger puppets of Golab Khanom, and fabric storybooks of Kadoo Ghelghele Zan.

These crafted items formed a valuable cultural and educational collection, combining storytelling with tangible artistic representations for young children.

Iran has a vast community of storytellers who run social media channels and organize events. The stories from Daughters of Iran Khanom have become popular for storytelling, with over 50 performances featuring characters like Mah Pishani, Nokhodi, and Nabat Khanom.

The National Radio of Iran also adapted these stories into radio dramas, further promoting the legends. Through these performances, hundreds of thousands of children, particularly in rural areas, have had the opportunity to experience these legendary tales.

Iran's diverse ethnic communities each have distinct traditional clothing. In a symbolic effort to celebrate unity, peace, and cultural appreciation, Yousefi initiated a photography project. Girls from different regions of Iran were invited to wear their traditional attire and pose with the Daughters of Iran Khanom book.

These photographs were widely shared on social media, fostering a sense of national pride and cultural appreciation through the lens of folklore. The campaign remains ongoing, with new submissions celebrating Iran's cultural richness.