Ahwaz Celebrates Gerga’aan: A Festival of Heritage and Identity

The villages and cities of Ahwaz witnessed celebrations of the traditional “Gerga’aan,” an ancient Arab heritage event celebrated by the people of Ahwaz and the Gulf states in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan.

Gerga’aan is one of the most prominent cultural events in Ahwaz, turning into a cultural festival that combines childhood joy with the preservation of Arab cultural identity.

Gerga’aan is an annual traditional celebration for children, observed in the middle of Ramadan across the Arabian Gulf region. It is known by this name in Ahwaz, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the UAE. However, its name varies from one region to another: in Bahrain, it is called “Garga’oon,” in Qatar “Garangao,” in Oman “Qarnqashooh,” and in Baghdad “Ma Jeena,” while Ahwaz retains the name “Gerga’aan.”

The origins of Gerga’aan in the region date back centuries, with multiple stories explaining its name. Some sources suggest that the word “Gerga’aan” comes from the Arabic term meaning “knocking on doors,” as children go door to door during the celebration. Others believe the name is derived from the sound of sweets and nuts rustling inside the bags carried by the children.

Another account links the name to the phrase “Qurat Ainak Ya Rasul” (May your eyes be blessed, O Messenger), which people in Medina would chant in celebration of the birth of Imam Hassan ibn Ali in the middle of Ramadan.

In Ahwaz, Gerga’aan is celebrated in all cities and towns of the region, with festivities closely resembling those in the neighboring Gulf states. However, there are unique cultural elements specific to Ahwazi celebrations due to differences in the local cultural environment.

Gerga’aan in Ahwaz has a distinct character, as children leave their homes on the evening of the 15th of Ramadan carrying bags to collect sweets and nuts from their neighbors.

Children dress in traditional Arab clothing—boys wear dishdashas and jackets, while girls wear embroidered traditional dresses. As they roam the streets and alleys, they chant special songs for the occasion, such as:

After the children’s rounds and the distribution of sweets, families hold celebrations at home, and cultural institutions organize special events for the occasion.

Gerga’aan in Ahwaz has gained particular cultural significance as a means of preserving Arab identity and passing it down to future generations.

Cultural activists believe that reviving Gerga’aan has become a historical necessity to preserve the cultural elements that create a shared awareness among the people of Ahwaz.

This occasion has become an opportunity to showcase the beauty of Arab cultural identity and maintain its cohesion in the face of attempts at change and marginalization by the Iranian occupation authorities.

Cultural activists take advantage of this celebration to reshape traditional songs with nationalistic messages suitable for children’s awareness, incorporating the names of Ahwazi cities such as Mohammarah and Fallahiyah.

Thus, Ahwazi folklore transforms into a form of “resistant children’s literature,” where identity is instilled through melodies and play.

Some cultural activists emphasize the need to expand celebrations in neighborhoods and cities experiencing forced Persianization and identity fragmentation, as they are in dire need of reconnecting with their cultural roots.

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