A herbal medicine festival and sales exhibition opened Sunday near the tomb of Persian polymath Avicenna in Hamadan, marking the start of events coinciding with Hamadan Day and commemorations in honor of the renowned scholar. The “First Festival and Exhibition of Herbal Medicines and Herbal Products of the Millennium Sage” will run through August 28.

Mohsen Masoum-Alizadeh, director general of Hamadan’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department, said at the opening ceremony that the event aims to highlight the province’s expertise and capabilities in medicinal plants. Organized in collaboration with government entities and relevant organizations, the festival features presentations on various native medicinal plant species, displays of herbal products and derivatives, and efforts to promote production and economic potential within the sector.

The festival also offers visitors insight into the properties and uses of medicinal plants, supported by specialized sessions led by university professors, researchers, and professionals specializing in herbal and traditional medicine. According to Masoum-Alizadeh, developing health tourism is a priority for Hamadan, and leveraging the province’s medicinal plants and traditional knowledge has the potential to enhance the tourism industry and generate new economic opportunities.

The event’s location adjacent to Avicenna’s tomb is significant, as the scholar’s foundational contributions to medicine have left a lasting legacy closely tied to Hamadan’s cultural identity.