Pateti (the fifth and last Gatha day for repentance) and Navruz (New Year’s Day) as per the Shehenshahi calendar are over and Fravardin, the first month of the Zoroastrian calendar has commenced. It is appropriate that the first month of the calendar is dedicated to the Fravashi or Fravahar – the prototype of all creation.

Auspicious Start

There is an erroneous belief in some quarters that the month of Fravardin is associated with the dead and hence not auspicious. This is incorrect, every single Mah (month) and Roj (day) including the five Gatha days of the Zoroastrian calendar are auspicious. If fact, in the Zoroastrian tradition while invoking Fravardin, we use the epitaph, ‘Farokh’, which means fortunate and happy. We pray, ‘Mah Farokh Fravardin’, meaning the happy and fortunate month of Fravardin. In other words, far from inauspicious, it’s a month to celebrate happiness and good fortune!

Indeed, what a wonderfully appropriate epitaph for the very first month of the year – a full month of good fortune, happiness and dedicated to Holy Fravashis, often described as our guardian spirit.

Significant Days

During the first week of Fravardin Mahino, there are several significant days, including Mah Fravardin, Roj Hormuzd (New Year’s day); Mah Fravardin, Roj Ardibehesht (Day to consecrate Rapithwin); Mah Fravardin, Roj Khordad (Khordad Sal celebrated traditionally as Asho Zarathushtra’s Birthday); and Mah Fravardin, Roj Amardad (Amardad Sal to celebrate eternity of the indestructible Fravahar).

Consecrating Rapithwin

Today, 17^th August, 2024 (Mah Fravardin, Roj Ardibehesht) is the day to consecrate Rapithwin. Although we observe Rapithwin Geh from New Year’s Day, the consecration (Eejavanu) ceremony of this Geh is performed on the third day of the New Year. The ceremony involves the ritual recitation of the Ijashne (Yasna of seventy-two chapters) with emphasis on the Lord/Divinity of Rapithwin and omission of certain phrases invoking the Lords/Divinities of the other Gehs.

This ceremony is performed on Roj Ardibehest because the Khshnuman (dedicatory formula) of Rapithwin is quite similar to the Khshnuman of Ardibehesht Roj. However, the Boiwala Priests of Atash Behram consecrate the Rapithwin on Roj Hormuzd itself to acquire amal (ritual power) for performing Boi during the full seven months in the Rapithwin Geh. According to various Pahlavi texts, consecrating the Rapithwin is considered an important religious duty.

Rapithwin Geh

In Zoroastrianism, the 24-hour day is divided into five watches, called Geh. The first watch (from sunrise to noon) is the Havan Geh; the second watch (from noon to early evening) is Rapithwin Geh and so on. Rapithwin is the second watch of the day. However, it is observed only from the first day of the New Year (Roj Hormuzd of Mah Fravardin) to the last day of the seventh month (i.e. up to Roj Aneran of Mah Meher). From Roj Horuzd of the eighth month of Avan to the day of the last Gatha, we observe the second Havan instead of Rapithwin. In other words, we observe the Rapithwin Geh for only seven out of the twelve months of the Zoroastrian calendar.

This appears to be a tradition from the time when we lived way up in the northern hemisphere and the days were shorter during winter and hence we prayed the Second Havan or Havan extended right through Rapithwin. Currently, with our Shehenshahi calendar out of sync with the seasons, this tradition may not make sense. However, upholding tradition, starting from the month of Fravardin, we pray Rapithwin Geh till the month of Avan, which earlier in history was autumn and Rapithwin (energy of warmth) symbolically went underground to protect roots and life through the cold winter.

Khordad Sal

Khordad Sal (Khordad Roj of Fravardin Mah) this year will be observed on Tuesday, 20^th August 2024. Khordad is the Divine Energy of Ahura Mazda that presides over time and perfection. It is for this reason that the first Khordad Roj of the new calendar is celebrated as Khordad-Sal-Khoday, i.e., Khordad – Lord of the year. Homage is paid to this Divine Energy of Time and Perfection in order that the year is filled with happiness and our lives move closer to perfection. Until a few decades ago, Khordad Sal used to be a general public holiday declared by the State Government.

In Zoroastrian tradition, a number of significant events are believed to have taken place on this blessed day. Gayomard (the first human being), Hooshang (the first King of ancient Iran), Kai Khosraw (a great and glorious King of Iran) and most important of all, Asho Zarathushtra are believed to have been born on this auspicious day.

This day also signifies the triumph of good over evil, for on this day, Shah Jamsheed is believed to have virtually arrested death and disease; the great King Kai Khosraw vanquished the evil Afrasiab and King Vishtasp accepted Zarathushtra’s teachings.

Celebrate Zarathushtra’s Birthday Meaningfully

The best way to celebrate Asho Zarathushtra’s birthday this Khordad Sal would be by imbibing the gift of his wisdom. Instead of forwarding images of Zarathushtra on WhatsApp and social media, it would be more meaningful instead to share the gift of his wisdom.

Gift Idea No. 1: Cultivate a reflective mind. Zarathushtra advises, “Hear with your ears the highest Truths, consider them with clear thought, before deciding between the two paths, man by man, each one for him-self.” Zarathushtra speaks here about the moral and ethical choices each one of us must exercise with clear thought or an illuminated mind. And, once we make a decision, we have to be responsible for its consequences. No one can save us from the consequences of our choice and hence Zarathushtra with reference to the two paths says: “And of these two the wise do choose what’s right; the unwise choose not thus.”

Gift Idea No. 2: Build friendship with Ahura Mazda. Zarathushtra chants: “Rafedhrem chagvaao hyat fryo fryaai daidit, Aakhso vangheush ashaa ishtim manangho.” Meaning (as translated by Prof. Stanley Insler): “Take notice of it, Lord, offering the support which a friend should grant to a friend. Let me see the power of good thinking allied with truth!” Here Zarathushtra does not see God as the Master or the Lord or as Father or someone to fear, but sees Him as a beloved friend to talk to in times of distress and to love Him and seek His support to perfect an imperfect world with friendship based on good thinking allied with Truth.

Gift Idea No. 3: Live in harmony with the Divine Order of the Universe. In the Gatha, Zarathushtra asks: “Tell me, O Mazda, how should they act and work? Who care for this joy-giving world with its pastures?” And, He answers thus: “Living upright lives under the recurring splendor of the sun, apart from the repudiators, living ordered lives in harmony with the law of Truth, these shall reap the Blessed Reward!” What Zarathushtra means is excellence and fulfillment can be achieved by leading an upright life in sync with the law of Asha and away from the perpetrators of evil and in doing so Spenta, the very spirit of the earth, rejoices.

Gift Idea No: 4: Pursue excellence through righteous actions. Zarathushta tells us: “That man, who performs all his actions as an act of worship through Asha’s Law, is deemed as the best by Mazda Ahura. Those who have been in the past and who are such at present, I shall, with reverence, recall them by name, and shall try to reach their high position by righteous deeds.” Thus, Zarathustra elucidates that excellence comes through righteous actions performed as acts of worship. Righteous actions are the best form of worship and such actions reap strength and empowerment.

Khordad Sal Mubarak!