Video roundup - Chahar shanbeh souri fire festival, Tuesday, 16 March 2010

For more videos and coverage of chahar shanbeh souri in other parts of the country, please click here.

My apologies for not being able to provide a live blog of today's events.

The following is a collection of the first videos uploaded on the evening of chahar shanbeh souri. For an article on this ancient fire festival, its particular significance this year, and the regime's longstanding efforts to counter pre-Islamic Iranian traditions, please click here. Viewers should remember that given the stern warnings of the regime to not celebrate the fire festival, any participation in this year's chahar shanbeh souri can be considered a form of cultural resistance.

The footage is from around the country and sometimes features the student protest anthem Yareh Dabestaniyeh Man (My schoolfriend).

Purportedly Javadiyeh district, northeast Tehran

View Tehran, Javadiyeh district - Chahar shanbeh souri - 16 March 2010 in a larger map

Group of celebrants use extremely powerful crackers



Unknown location
Earlier in the day. Heavy presence of security forces on the now infamous red motorcycles...



Purportedly Takhti Street, Boroujerd
Clashes with security forces: 'Death to the dictator!'

View Boroujerd - Chahar shanbeh souri - 16 March 2010 in a larger map




Purportedly Tehran
Group of young protesters chant 'Death to the dictator!' and sing student protest anthem Yareh Dabestaniyeh Man.



Purportedly Shahin Shahr, north of Isfahan

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Protesters sing Yareh Dabestaniyeh Man and chant 'Political prisoners must be freed!' and 'Don't be afraid, we're all together!'



Purportedly Sadeghiyeh district, central Tehran

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'Death to the dictator!' 'With God's help, victory is near!' and again Yareh Dabestaniyeh Man...

More unrest in the same area...

'Death to the dictator' cried out in the same area...



Purportedly Ajoudaniyeh Street, north Tehran
'Get inside, they're beating the people.' And then, 'Death to the dictator!'


Towhid Square, Tehran
Security forces are amassed...



Purportedly Karaj

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Street party as protest...



Purportedly Tabriz

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Large crowd celebrates...




Purportedly Amir Abad district, Tehran

View Amir Abad, Tehran - Chahar shanbeh souri, 16 March 2010 in a larger map
Huge bonfire and celebrants...



Purportedly Bandar Anzali

View Bandar Anzali - Chahar shanbeh souri, 16 March 2010 in a larger map
And more celebration during a festival deemed anti-religious by the country's senior clergy and Leader Ali Khamenei...



Purportedly Bandar Abbas

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'Go ahead. Who are you afraid of?'



Purportedly Rasht

View Rasht - Chahar shanbeh souri, 16 March 2010 in a larger map

'Don't be afraid, we're all together!' And then, the song Yareh Dabestaniyeh Man. 'Dictator, feel some shame. Leave my country alone!'