The Ardebil Nomadic Tribes Festival, also known as the Mughan Nomadic Tribes Festival, is held annually in the spring season and early month of Ordibehesht (April-May) in the Mughan Plain (their countryside location). This season marks the migration time for the Shahsavan tribe towards the Savalan highlands. Currently, there are approximately 15,000 households and a population of around 80,000 people in the Ardebil province. Like in the past, they still migrate to the highlands and pastures during the spring and autumn seasons. In this festival, booths are set up showcasing the unique and traditional tents of Iranian tribes, where various products ranging from handicrafts to dairy products are displayed, and visitors have the opportunity to make purchases and orders. Other ceremonies held during the festival include performances of Ashiq music, symbolic nomadic migration, bridal ceremonies, honoring tribal elders and intellectuals, and tribal leaders' gatherings.
The observance of Islamic and Iranian customs and rituals is among the most important traditions of the Shahsavan tribe. They hold their celebrations in open fields and gather to visit each other after the Eid prayers on religious holidays such as Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr. Marriage ceremonies hold great significance among the tribes. When a young man desires a girl, two representatives from the bearded elders of the tribe send a proposal to the girl's tent, and if they reach an agreement, they make a covenant and agreement, which holds great importance among the tribes. Another notable tradition of the Shahsavan tribe that enriches their cultural heritage is the Yalda Night ceremony. They consume cold fruits, particularly watermelon, believing that it protects them from the cold of winter.
In the 1960s (1340s in the Iranian calendar), the Shahsavan tribes considered themselves members of an "il"- it might be translated as a tribal federation in English- consisting of 32 tribes. Each tribe was comprised of several clans, and the leader of a tribe was called "big," while the leader of a clan was known as "Agh Aaqal" (white beard). Each tribe was further divided into several "oba" (tribal camps). The terms "il," "tribe," and "clan" had different meanings outside the hierarchical structure. Each of the Iranian tribes has its own way of life and unique customs, which are among the most fascinating aspects of their social life. The Ardabil province is home to numerous tribes and nomadic communities, with the Shahsavan and Arasbaran tribes being the most significant and cohesive, scattered throughout various regions of the province.
The Shahsavan tribe is one of the most important and well-known tribes in the Ardabil and East Azerbaijan provinces, with a rich historical background and distinctive social and cultural characteristics. The members of this tribe are pastoralists who utilize the lush pastures of the Ardabil mountains. The Arasbaran tribes also inhabit mountainous areas, with their main territory being the southwestern part of the Mughan Plain. The Shia Shahsavan, who speak Azerbaijani Turkish, have had a nomadic lifestyle since ancient times and they currently rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
From the 18th century onwards, relatively abundant documents exist regarding the history of the Shahsavan tribe. However, the origins of the Shahsavan tribe are still surrounded by some ambiguity. It is believed that the Shahsavan tribe is a collection of tribal groups that came together in the form of a union between the 16th and 18th centuries. In the present era, there are various different narratives about the origin and emergence of the Shahsavan tribe. However, the officially accepted narrative is that Shah Abbas I, from the beginning of his reign, was compelled to confront the excessive demands of the Qizilbash grandees. In order to counter the rebellion of the Qizilbash tribes, he eliminated some of their leaders and established a tribe to confront them, naming it Shah Svan, meaning "the friends of the Shah," and asked all the men of the tribes to register as members of this tribe. The Shah considered this tribe as his loyal supporters and entrusted them with protecting his dynasty. With his special support, he distinguished and elevated them above others.
When the land of Iran was in turmoil and chaos, and each of the Timurid rulers, Aq Qoyunlu, and other local rulers seized a corner of this land, Ismail Mirza, later known as Shah Ismail, managed to suppress the Aq Qoyunlu with the help of the Shahsavan and established his own government, which lasted for two and a half centuries until 1508 AD.
The Mughan plain is accessible from the south to Meshgin Shahr and from the west to Arasbaran. The best time to travel to this region is spring and summer. Among the other attractions of the Mughan plain, we can mention the famous Dasht-e Hamisheh Bahar (Forever Spring) plains, green mountains, the Aras River, Lake Shahrak-e Mughan Dam, Ulutan Castle, Aslanduz Mughan Cemetery, Qaraluja Tower, and the historic Khomarlu Bridge.