TEHRAN-- Songwriter and musician Hamid Shahangian, best known for the anthem Khomeini, Oh Imam! , was honored on Sunday by the 38th Fajr Music Festival.He received an award from Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili at Tehrans Arasbaran Cultural Center.Shahangian was also presented with a picture of himself done by Ali Minai.The honoring ceremony was hung on the sidelines of the anthem competition, which has actually been organized at the festival for the very first time.Shahangian is popular for Khomeini, Oh Imam! that he made up in the winter season of 1979.

The anthem was carried out by a choir as part of the programs arranged to invite Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, at Tehrans Mehrabad International Airport on his return from exile on February 1, 1979.

After accepting his award, Shahangian stated a story about his attempt to tape-record one of his innovative anthems, which stayed not successful for security factors in 1979.

Shahangian recited verses from the anthem, which asks soldiers to sign up with the revolutionaries.

Lets worth the revolution, he said in an address to the audience.Esmaeili also thanked Shahangian and said, His anthems remember the psychological and fantastic days and scenes.

The generations that followed the success of the transformation were warned of the ambiance of those days by the anthems composed by master Shahangian, he added.

Master Shahangians anthems are really lovely and were carried out frequently and will end up being everlasting in the art history of the nation, he noted.Earlier in July 2022, Shahangian was honored for his life time achievements in innovative music during the very first edition of the Fajr National and International Anthem Festival.The Fajr Music Festival is another part of the Ten-Day Dawn event, which is arranged every year to mark the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.About 90 performances are set up to be held during the celebration at 7 halls, including Vahdat and Rudaki in Tehran.Bands from Portugal, Russia, Hungary, India, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Serbia have likewise been welcomed to provide performances during the occasion, which will end on Wednesday.Photo: Songwriter Hamid Shahangian (R) receives a portrait of himself from Culture Minister Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaeili throughout the 38th Fajr Music Festival at Tehrans Arasbaran Cultural Center on February 19, 2023.

(Honaronline)MMS/YAW