Paak Dadaar Ahura Mazda Madad Hojo Ji

Religious festivals play a very important role in the devotional life of a Zoroastrian. There are different types of festivals which may be divided into three categories.

I. SEASONAL GAHAMBARS:

These are endowed by an individual in memory of their near and dear departed ones. A Jashan is performed in memory of the deceased and special food is prepared which in turn is eaten in religious fellowship by both the rich and poor. This mode of celebration serves as a permanent and discreet way of feeding the poorer members of the fold. Charity of any form directed towards the underprivileged is a special duty incumbent upon every Zoroastrian. In Zoroastrianism, poverty is regarded as an affliction of evil, which is to be fought by humankind so as to remove it from the world.

III. SOME IMPORTANT THANKSGIVING DAYS:

Khordad Sal:

Khordad roz, Fravardin mah (6th day, lst month). On this day, the Prophet's birthday is celebrated, symbolically.

Fravardigan:

Fravardin roz, Fravardin mah (19th day, lst month). On this day, the priests perform a Jashan in the vicinity of the Towers of Silence in memory of all the departed souls of the community. [When the month and the day names coincide, it is known as 'Parab' in Gujarati]

Tiragan:

Tir roz, Tir mah (13th day, 4th month). This summer festival is devoted to Tir, the yazata of the rains and fertility. Tir is also associated with the dog star Sirius. On this day people splash each other with water. This festival coincides with the celebration of the second seasonal gahambar

Mehergan:

Meher roz, Meher mah (16th day, 7th month). This festival of early autumn is dedicated to the yazata Meher, a divinity associated with the sun and justice; the ripening of the crops and fruits at that time of the year may be seen as a symbolic ripening of the world itself, into fullness, before the moment of the promised resurrection.

Ave roj nu Parab:

Ava roz, Ave mah (10th day, 8th month). This day is celebrated as the birthday of the waters, when Zoroastrians go to the waters and offer thanks to the great nourisher and purifier of the world. Special food and prayers are also offered to the water divinity on this day.

Adar roj nu Parab:

Adar roz, Adar mah(9th day, 9th month). This day is celebrated as the birthday of the fire, when Zoroastrians thank the fire for the warmth and light given by it throughout the year. Traditionally on this day, food is not cooked in the house as the fire is given a rest and special prayers including the litany to the fire "Atash Niyayesh" are recited alongside the house fire.

Jashn-e-Sadeh:

Ashtad roz, Adar mah (26th day, 9th month). This feast is celebrated in mid-winter 100 days before the advent of spring. It is from this point of time that the day becomes longer than the night, in order that greater light and warmth may permeate the world- The Jashan is performed in the Aiwisruthrim gah which is the fourth evening watch of the Zoroastrian day.

Zardosht no Diso:

Khorshed roz, Dae mah (11th day, 10th month). This is the day on which the death anniversary of the prophet symbolically falls. Special prayers are recited and traditionally Zoroastrians go to the Fire Temple as a mark of remembrance of their prophet.

Festival of All Souls - Muktad:

Ashtad roz, Spendarmad mah (26th day, 12th month), to the 5th Gatha day. (The five gatha days are supplementary days and therefore no month is ascribed to them). It is believed that during this 10-day festival the spirits (farohars) of the dead visit their near and dear ones in the physical world. The priests perform special rituals over cooked food, fruits and fresh flowers during which the spirits of the departed are invoked in order to seek their protection and blessings, in this world. In the last watch (Ushahin) gah of the 5th Gatha day (dawn of Hormazd roz), a special dron and afrinagan ceremony in honour of the farohars is performed, by way of a gesture to bid the spirits a final farewell from this world. During the festival, the living must keep their homes extra clean and be in a state of heightened consciousness so as to experience the presence of the spiritual world. It is said, that the Muktad prayers should be offered for at least one generation, that is for say, 16 to 30 years.

NoRuz (New Day):

This is the most important day of the year and is recognised to be the seventh crowning festival which immediately follows the sixth gahambar. NoRuz is associated with the seventh creation Fire, and is linked to the Amesha Spenta Ardibehesht -the Best Truth. The seventh festival, bridges the old year to the New Year with the advent of spring. The resurgence of life takes place during this period with the symbolic victory of the forces of light over darkness. It is customary to exchange gifts, wear new clothes, settle disputes and go to the Fire Temple in order to reaffirm this day to be one of renewal, hope and joy. According to the tradition, the festival is believed to have been founded by the prophet himself, whom it is held, received his first revelation on this day. This day is also associated with the mythical King Jamshed whose golden rule it is said, lasted for over 600 years. Legend has it, that on this day King Jamshed forced the demons to carry him on their shoulders from Mount Demavand to Babylon. It is only in the late 19th century, that the Parsis of India named this day "Jamshedi" NoRuz.

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