A Journey Between 30 September and 12 October
Discovering Two Masters of Persian Poetry
Every year, the Iranian calendar marks two special dates: 8 Mehr, the day dedicated to Rumi, and 20 Mehr, the day of Hafez. These two poets are not just names in books; they are world-famous voices whose words continue to move people from every culture. Their poetry is full of emotion, mystery, and a deep sense of connection to something beyond ordinary life.
In this story-like journey, we explore who they were, what they wrote, and why millions of people across the world still follow their footsteps. And for travelers who want to feel this magic in real life, we share how it is possible to celebrate both masters, in the same season, by traveling along the roads they once knew.
Rumi — The Poet of Whirling Spirit
Rumi, also known as Mowlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Balkhi, is the poet of love, movement, and transformation. His words feel like music; they speak of the heart, the soul, and the invisible world that connects all human beings. Many people know Rumi because of the whirling dervishes, the dancers who turn in circles like planets around the sun. This dance is not just art—it is a symbol of how Rumi understood love: something powerful, simple, and endless.
When you read Rumi, you can almost hear the dance. You feel the rhythm, the wind of motion, and the quiet voice inside saying: “Come closer. Discover who you really are.” Rumi’s poetry is emotional, warm, and universal. No wonder the world has embraced him as one of the most important mystical poets in history.
Every year, on 8 Mehr, people gather in Konya, the city where Rumi lived and taught, to celebrate his life. The air fills with music, slow spinning movements, and a soft spiritual energy that touches everyone, even non-believers. It is a day when poetry becomes alive.
Hafez — The Poet of Eternal Light
Twelve days later, Iran celebrates the day dedicated to Hafez, another brilliant voice of Persian poetry. If Rumi’s poetry is the movement of the heart, Hafez’s poetry is the light of wisdom. He writes with elegance, humor, philosophy, and a delicate sense of joy. His words feel like a candle glowing in the dark—gentle, warm, and full of meaning.
Hafez’s influence reached far beyond Iran. One of the greatest admirers of his work was Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German poet and philosopher. Goethe loved Hafez so deeply that he wrote an entire book inspired by him, West–Eastern Divan. He described Hafez as a “mirror of truth” and believed that his poetry opened a door between the East and the West. Even today, scholars and artists around the world read Hafez to understand beauty, love, and freedom.
The best place to feel Hafez’s presence is in Shiraz, where his peaceful tomb sits among orange trees and sweet-scented gardens. On 20 Mehr, people visit his resting place, read his poems aloud, and celebrate the beauty he gifted to the world.
Walking in Their Footsteps — A Journey Across Time and Heart
Imagine this:
You begin your journey in Konya, standing among whirling dervishes on the day of Rumi’s celebration. The drums echo softly, the dancers move like rotating stars, and for a moment the world feels slower, lighter, more meaningful. You breathe in the sound, the movement, the calm.
But the journey doesn’t end there. After Konya, you travel along a path that connects the two great poets. On the way, you can visit Khoy, where Shams Tabrizi—Rumi’s beloved teacher and spiritual soulmate—is buried. Visiting his shrine feels like meeting the spark that gave birth to Rumi’s fire.
Then the road continues to Yazd. This ancient desert city holds the Alexander Prison (Zendan-e Eskandar), a historic site mentioned in Hafez’s poetry during the time of his exile. Walking inside its quiet courtyard, you can almost hear whispering stories of the poet’s difficult days, his resilience, and his deep understanding of life.
Finally, you reach Shiraz, just in time for 20 Mehr. The garden of Hafez welcomes you with the scent of citrus, the sound of water flowing in the channels, and the soft glow of night lights reflecting on the marble of his tomb. People around you open their books, choose a random poem, and read it with a smile—because in Iran, Hafez is not just a poet; he is a friend, a guide, a voice of hope.
Two Masters, One Path, One Season
Celebrating Rumi and Hafez in the same journey is like walking from movement to light, from dance to poetry, from Konya’s spiritual rhythm to Shiraz’s fragrant gardens. These two dates—8 Mehr and 20 Mehr—are more than numbers on a calendar. They are moments when poetry becomes alive, when the past touches the present, and when travelers can feel the heart of Persian culture in its purest form.
With the routes, experiences, and connections we prepare, travelers are able to follow the poets’ footsteps in a short time and feel what millions have felt for centuries. It is a rare chance to step inside poetry, not just read it.
