Ḥayāt dar birkah-hā: safar bih dil-i khudmūnī-hā-yi Acham-zabān Persian 2026

All the children here know that there is Dād o Malākeh in the ponds, or Dad Malaku, a terrifying mythical demon invented to frighten children so they would not go near the ponds and drown.

I watch the dance of light upon the water and avert my gaze. The sun is fierce, and no one but me is in the alleys. In Larestan, everyone knows that noon is no time for wandering.

When evening falls, we will go to the caravanserais and visit the old ponds. In the days that follow, I wander through the bazaars and the fortress, and in the museums, the ancient objects donated by the people connect me to the past lives of this land and its people.

The people of this region are renowned for their efforts in building their towns and for their dedication to charity and voluntary work. They themselves have written about their homeland many times, keeping their history alive.

This travelogue is the account of someone who journeyed to Larestan to meet its people, explore its historical sites, and wander through its landscapes. Everywhere he went, he found ponds, palm trees, sidr trees, tamarisks, and people who welcomed him warmly, sharing the history of their towns and villages with kindness and pride.