Nauvroz: A Celebration of Light, Renewal, and ancient Persian Heritage
The Parsi New Year, known as Nauvroz, is a vibrant festival observed by the Zoroastrian community. Derived from the Persian words nau (“new”) and roz (“day, daylight”), the name itself embodies the...
View ArticleMidsummer Festivities and celebration of Sirius, called Tištar or the...
The Zoroastrian Mid-Summer festivities start on June 29 and last till July 3rd. During the Mid-Summer festivities on July 1st, the brightest star in the sky or Sirius, called Tištar or the Three-stars...
View ArticleHomage to Heavens and Light in Zoroastrianism
The direction faced by Zoroastrians during meditations/prayers is narrated in the 53rdchapter of DĀDESTÁN Í MĒNÖG Í ḴRAD(Judgments or Decisions of the Spirit of Wisdom.) The book itself consists of 63...
View ArticleThe Autumn festival of Miθrá
The autumnal festival of Miθrá falls on October 2nd in the ancient seasonal Zoroastrian Calendar! Zoroastrians consider Miθrá, the guardian of early morning hours after dawn, and invoke him in their...
View ArticleThe Indo-European Twin Yima, and the Celebration of the First Dawn of Spring...
Vernal Equinox marks the beginning of the Zoroastrian New Year and is the most sacred of all the Zoroastrian religious festivals. The rites associated with the celebration of Vernal Equinox and New...
View ArticleAži Dahák, the three headed snake man/monster
Aži Dahāk or the “snake man/monster,” is viewed as the greatest lieutenant of aæšma, the demon-God of “upside down order, vengeful anger, chaos, and wrath” in Zoroastrian mythology. Aæšma, in turn is...
View ArticleLate Bronze Age and the time of Zarathustra
The subject of Zarathustra’s time, the seer-prophet of ancient Indo-Iranians has been a very contentious issue in the field of ancient Iranian studies. Some western academics have literally called...
View ArticleWelcoming the Blessed Spirits with Bonfires and the 10 days of Introspection...
The last ten days before Vernal Equinox/New Year are a time of reflection and introspection among Zoroastrians. Not only we thoroughly clean and beautify our homes, but must come clean...
View ArticleÁrmaiti, Perfect Mediation, Firm Foundation,
The festival of the Auspicious Ármaiti falls on February 18th in the Zoroastrian sacred calendar. Per our age-old tradition, every year, we write verses from the Avesta (“sacred songs/poetry” of the...
View ArticleThe Winter Festival of Sadæ and the Discovery of Fire
The Zoroastrians celebrate their major winter festival called sadæ on the fortieth day after the winter solstice. It is believed that fortieth (also known as “čellae” in Persian) is the most freezing...
View ArticleSolstice rites, lights and Lamps in the Zoroastrian customs and tradition
A characteristic aspect of Zoroastrianism is its veneration of light/fire. The elaborate cult of fire is one of the most distinctive and striking aspects of the Zoroastrian faith and goes back to the...
View ArticleAPÁM NAPÁT, The Grand Child/Descendant of the Waters
November 15 marks the last day of the month of waters in the Zoroastrian calendar. In ancient Zoroastrianism, a splendid god-force associated with waters known as ápam napát is honored during prayers...
View ArticleWater as a symbol of memory, deepest wisdom/inspiration in Zoroastrianism
October 26th marks the festival of waters. The hymn or Yašt to waters is among the longest and most beautiful in the sacred Avestan literature. In Zoroastrian worship both fire and water play a...
View ArticleEvil as undead Monster and the Supreme Importance of SpaceTime in Zoroastrianism
October 12 marks the thanksgiving festival of ayáthrim when the cows/cattle decorated in flowers, are brought back home to their warm shelters. The ayáthrim is a festive time to lead cattle from their...
View ArticleThe Autumnal Equinox and the Zoroastrian Paitiš.hahiia and Mehregán festival
In the Zoroastrian religious calendar, the celebration of autumnal equinox is closely associated with Mehregán and the Old Avestan paitiš.hahaiia festival. Mehregán is a celebration of Miθrá, the...
View ArticleThe Magic Fire and the Final Fiery Trial by Molten Metal in ancient...
In Norse mythology, Ragnarök (Fate of the Reigning-Gods) is the cataclysmic, final battle between the forces of order and those of chaos. Ragnarök marks the pivotal event that ends the nine...
View ArticleParsi new year, the 3 Zoroastrian calendars and the rite of celebrating the...
Parsi new year, the 3 Zoroastrian calendars and the rite of celebrating the blessed spirits and the heroic dead August 16 marks the beginning of the Parsi new year. Parsis are the Zoroastrians of...
View ArticleThe Zoroastrian midsummer festival “Maiδyö.šam” and the Star Sirius
The Zoroastrian midsummer festival “Maiδyö.šam” starts on June 29th and concludes on July 3rd. The midsummer festivities start approximately 9 days after summer solstice. Maiδyö.šam is known as the...
View ArticleThe original rainbow bridge and the Chinvad Portal of the Zoroastrian sacred...
In ancient Norse religion, a burning rainbow bridge called the Bifrost or more precisely Ásbrú (the Æsir’s bridge) connects Midgard, “middle realm/earth” with Asgard, “home of the gods/æsir.” The...
View ArticleZoroastrianism in China
The Chinese referred to Zoroastrianism as the “heaven worshiping religion” pronounced xianjiào in Chinese. The Japanese term kenkyo is an exact translation of the Chinese description of the...
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