The Festival of Mihragan (Jashan-e Mihragan)
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The festival of Mihragan orignated from an Aryan feast in honour of the sun god. It is also known as Mithrakana' in Avesta, literally translated to "belonging to Mithra", as Zoroastrians celebrate this feast to praise the angel Mithra. Mithra is the greatest Zoroastrian angel. He is an angel of light and is often associated with the sun. He is said to have one thousand ears and ten thousand eyes. This festival focuses on love and gratitude for life. It also commemorates how Feraydon, a blacksmith, had slayed the cruel King Azydahak that wanted to destroy all humans. He and his allies killed Zohak on Mount Damavand and Feraydon become the king himself.
Mihragan was originally meant to be celebrated on the day of the fall equinox (the first day of the seventh Zoroastrian month of Mihr), but is now normally started on day of Mithra, which is the sixteenth day of the seventh month of the Zoroastrian calendar, and lasts for 6 days.
Mihragan was originally meant to be celebrated on the day of the fall equinox (the first day of the seventh Zoroastrian month of Mihr), but is now normally started on day of Mithra, which is the sixteenth day of the seventh month of the Zoroastrian calendar, and lasts for 6 days.
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During this festival, followers will light large bon fires, sing and play music, dance and pray. Pure oils for sanctuary lamps, candles and incense are given to the shrines while the mobads (priests) say prayers. Incense is burnt, and sweet smelling flowers and herbs are also presented to the temples. In their homes, worshipers will set up a table with the fire vase or an incense burner, a copy of the 'Khordeh Avesta' (Zoroastrian Holy Book), a mirror to represent self-reflection, water because it is the source of life, coins to symbolize prosperity and, fruits, flowers, sweets, wine and assorted grains.
Traditionally, families would give gifts of grain and lentils to the fire temple. An animal would be sacrificed and cooked with lentils, herbs and another meat, and be distributed to the community members, including those that are not Zoroastrian. The remains would also be fed to the dogs of the city.
Traditionally, families would give gifts of grain and lentils to the fire temple. An animal would be sacrificed and cooked with lentils, herbs and another meat, and be distributed to the community members, including those that are not Zoroastrian. The remains would also be fed to the dogs of the city.
The Festival of Tiragan (Jashan-e Tiragan)
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The festival of Tiragan is a festival of the rain. It celebrates the legend of Arash. Arash was known to the the best archer in the Persian army. He was chosen to settle a dispute between Manouchehr and Afrasiyab, the kings of Persia and Turan (present day Central Asia) who were fighting over land. The kings came to an agreement as to how the land should be divided. Arash would climb to the peak of Mount Damavand, where he would shoot an arrow towards the East. Wherever the arrow landed would become the boundary between the kingdoms. Arash's arrow landed on the banks of the Jeyhun (the Oxus) River, thus marking the border between the countries once and for all. According to the legend, after the kings' fighting was put to an end, rain poured down over both of the kingdoms, ending an eight-year drought.
This festival is celebrated on the 13th day of Tir, the 4th month of the Zoroastrian calendar, which is around the beginning of July in the Gregorian calendar. This was the day when Arash shot his arrow.
To celebrate Tiragan, Zoroastrians will tie rainbow-coloured ribbons around their wrist for ten days before the festival. On the day of the festival they then throw their ribbons into a stream. The celebration also includes dancing, singing, reciting poetry, and eating delicacies such as spinach soup and sholeh zard, a saffron flavored rice pudding.
This festival is celebrated on the 13th day of Tir, the 4th month of the Zoroastrian calendar, which is around the beginning of July in the Gregorian calendar. This was the day when Arash shot his arrow.
To celebrate Tiragan, Zoroastrians will tie rainbow-coloured ribbons around their wrist for ten days before the festival. On the day of the festival they then throw their ribbons into a stream. The celebration also includes dancing, singing, reciting poetry, and eating delicacies such as spinach soup and sholeh zard, a saffron flavored rice pudding.
The Festival of Sadeh (Jashan-e Sadeh)
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The festival of Sadeh, also known as Adur-Jashan (feast of fire), is a mid-winter celebration where the entire community participates in creating a large bonfire. The fire was meant to drive off demons and bring back the warmth and light of summer in the midst of the declining winter sun. It is created to overcome the frost and cold that turned the water to ice that killed the roots of plants. This is why the fire is always set up near water and temples.
Sadeh is celebrated on the 20th day of Bahman, the eleventh month of the Zoroastrian calendar. The day before this festival, many teenage boys perform a ritual rite of passage that includes going on a quest for camel's thorn, an Iranian desert shrub, to take to the shrine. They would be joined by a few adults males, but for many of the boys this is the first time they leave the rest of their family. If it is a boys first journey for the shrub, he will return home to a celebration involving the entire Zoroastrian community.
On the day of the ceremony, mobads would say specific prayers and perform rituals before lighting the fire at sunset. Once the fire was burning people would dance around it, drink wine, and hold a grand feast. The fire continues to burn all throughout the night. On the morning of the next day, women will go to the fire and bring a portion of it back to their homes to make new smaller fires, in order to spread the blessing of the original fire to each household in the neighborhood.
Sadeh is celebrated on the 20th day of Bahman, the eleventh month of the Zoroastrian calendar. The day before this festival, many teenage boys perform a ritual rite of passage that includes going on a quest for camel's thorn, an Iranian desert shrub, to take to the shrine. They would be joined by a few adults males, but for many of the boys this is the first time they leave the rest of their family. If it is a boys first journey for the shrub, he will return home to a celebration involving the entire Zoroastrian community.
On the day of the ceremony, mobads would say specific prayers and perform rituals before lighting the fire at sunset. Once the fire was burning people would dance around it, drink wine, and hold a grand feast. The fire continues to burn all throughout the night. On the morning of the next day, women will go to the fire and bring a portion of it back to their homes to make new smaller fires, in order to spread the blessing of the original fire to each household in the neighborhood.