With a history of more than 400 years, Gol Qaltan ritual is one of the lively and blooming traditional customs remained of old centuries which is still held in some regions of Damqan city, like Amirieh village, Jazan etc. It is typically carried out each year, actually in the first spring of a newborn’s life, in May, by one of the female relatives like mother, parental or maternal aunt or grandmother in collaboration with other locals. The event is one of the registered spiritual heritages of Amirieh which is about to the global registration as well.
According to a local belief, rolling baby over the Rosa damascena’ petals (commonly known as Gole Mohammadi in Iran) make them alive and fresh. In addition, the freshness of the petals protects the skin of baby and their whole body from different kinds of diseases while making them more companionable in the future. The ritual of Gol Qaltan is commonly held sometime between baby's birthday and their yearling. According to the tradition, the ritual is held in the tenth day after the birthday, at the same time as their first bath, for those babies who are born in the spring. However, the ones who are born in other seasons are typically rolled over the flowers in their first spring. Right at the same time as the growth of Mohammadi flowers, some ladies close to the newborn go to the fields and gardens of Mohammadi flowers early in the morning in order to pick the flowers while whispering some songs and sending blessings upon Mohammad the prophet:
All mountains and plains smell like you Mohammad
What flower looks like your face and stature, Mohammad?
The same fish coming from the mountain
He brings the memory of your eyebrows with him.
Those families who are waiting for their babies to be born in other seasons tent to gather the flowers during the spring and freeze them in the fridge in order to use them after the birthday. They usually separate the petals after picking the flowers. Four ladies hold four corners of a white fabric on which the separated petals are spread. They put the baby onto the fabric, after bathing and drying their bodies. Starting to roll the baby over the petals, they perform some dhikrs, send blessing upon the prophet, read some local and traditional songs and poems.
They also describe the beauties of the baby while performing the ritual and rolling the baby’s body over the petals. The guests are treated with drinks and sweets after the ceremony. Bathing the baby, putting them on the white fabric full of petals of Mohammadi flower remind us of the baptism rituals in other religions. The history of the ritual goes back to one of the old Iranian fictions named Smiling Flower in which some holy and pure people promise the birth of a blessed baby whose mouth blossoms every time he laughs, and his tears turn into pearls every time he cries, and the clay under his feet turns into gold and silver with every step he takes. It is stated that the traditional ritual of Gol Qaltan is the same as Smiling Flower tradition in which the birth of a child brings the family happiness and bless.
The beautiful ceremony of Gol Qaltan is held in form of a traditional festival every year attracting a large number of tourists to the region. Local music, local wood dance, local games, bazars of traditional and local products, visit of historical, natural and recreational centers, along with baking Samanu (Sümelek), local bread and Fatir, visit of Canvas weaving studios as well as camel and carriage riding are other events of this exciting ceremony.