By Darayush Zainabadi, Hon. Admin, Sazeman-e-Jawanan-Zarthoshty-e-Irani (Mumbai)
As the Iranian Zoroastrian community in Mumbai gets set to celebrate the Maidyozarem Gahambar (Ordibehesht Mah, Ruz 10 to 14, corresponding to 30th April – 4th May, 2025) on 4th May, this year, it is a fitting occasion to renew our Parsi-Irani acquaintance with the sacred days and festivals of our beloved ancient motherland, Iran.
Jashan-e-Ordibeheshtgan marks Ordibehesht Ruz – the second day of the solar month of Ordibehesht in the Fasli calendar (22nd April of the secular calendar). The word ‘Ordibehesht’ (as spelt and pronounced by Iranian Zoroastrians) comes from the Avestan ‘Asha Vahishta’, meaning ‘the best truth and purity’ (‘Ashoi’). One of the key features of this festival is maintaining purity of the four sacred elements – water, air, earth and (especially) fire. In ancient Iran, on this day, people would don white clothes and white caps/scarves (symbolising purity), and visit the ‘Atashkadeh’ to offer prayers to Ahura Mazda. This tradition continues to this day, with Zoroastrians visiting fire temples and reciting Avestan hymns, especially the Ordibehesht Yasht, in front of the sacred fire. An excerpt from the Ordibehesht Yasht reads: “We honour Ordibehehesht Ameshaspand, who is praised by all the Ameshaspands. This Ameshaspand, protected by Ahura Mazda, embodies good thoughts, good words, and good deeds, and its dwelling place is in the House of Light.”
Zoroastrian Calendar
Over time, the Iranian calendar has undergone many changes, but took its final form during the Achaemenid Empire, with the names of months and days dedicated to Zoroastrian deities and Ameshaspentas. The Zoroastrian calendar consists of twelve months, each comprising 30 days. Each day is named after a creation or attribute of Ahura Mazda (see table). In the Zoroastrian calendar, the concept of the modern seven-day week did not exist. Instead, a month comprised two seven-day periods and two eight-day periods. The first days of these periods (Ormazd, Dey-be-Azar, Dey-be-Mehr and Dey-be-Din) were considered rest days (a la the modern weekend!), and were dedicated to reflective worship. Additionally, when the name of the day matched that of the month, that day was marked with celebratory fervour.
The Five Panja Days (Panjī)
In the Zoroastrian calendar, there are 12 months of 30 days each, making a total of 360 days. To complete the solar year, five extra days are added at the end of the year. These last five days are the Gatha Days (‘Gathabiyu’), after the five sections of the Gathas (sacred hymns of Zarathustra). These final days of the year are known as Panja or Panjī. Every four years, during a leap year, an additional day called ‘Avardad’ is added to the Panja days.
Environmental Protection
As per Zoroastrian religion and the law of Asha, humans are responsible for the well-being of Creation. In fact, a physical manifestation of ‘Good Thoughts’ is the protection of the environment. Zoroastrians are called on to preserve the purity of the four elements – Water (Akhshij), Air (Wind), Earth (Soil), Fire – believed by ancient Iranians to be the fundamental building blocks of Creation. Since the Ordibehesht Amesha Spenta symbolizes purity and Asha (divine truth and order), the Ordibeheshtgan festival is marked by reverence for the environment, personal cleanliness and spiritual purity (truthfulness, righteousness and integrity).
Gahanbar (Gahān Bār)
Gahanbar (or what we term Gahambar) is a time of charity and giving, where both, the wealthy and the less fortunate participate together in celebrations. The word Gahanbar is a shortened form of ‘Gahan Bār’, meaning the time of fruition and harvest. Gahanbars are connected to the primary occupations of ancient Iranians – namely agriculture and animal husbandry.
These festivals are celebrated six times a year, with each gahanbar lasting five days. According to Zoroastrian lore, during these six periods, the sky, water, earth, plants, animals and humans were created by Ahura Mazda. The first, Maidyozarem, signifies the creation of the sky. The Gahanbar of Maidyozarem originally marked the beginning of the agricultural festival. During each season, when beneficial changes occurred in the land, plants and climate, people would gather at a specific place and offer a portion of their livestock to those in need.
In the Avesta, the six Gahanbar festivals (Gasanbar or Gahān Bār in Pahlavi) are as follows:
- Maidyōzarem: Meaning mid-Spring, observed from Ordibehesht 10 to 14 (from Khorshid to Dey-be-Mehr in the Ordibehesht month).
- Maidyōshehm: Meaning mid-Summer, observed from Tir 8 to 12 (from Khorshid to Dey-be-Mehr day in the Tir month).
III. Paitishahem: Meaning end of Summer, observed from Shahrivar 21 to 25 (from Eshtad to Anaram, in the Shahrivar month).
- Ayathrem: Meaning beginning of Winter, observed from Mehr 20 to 24 (from Eshtad to Anaram day, in the Mehr month).
- Maidyārem: Meaning mid-Winter rest, observed from Dey 10 to 14 (from Mehr to Vahram, in the Dey month).
- Hamaspathmaidyem: Meaning equality of Day and Night (Spring Equinox), observed from Esfand 25 to 29 (the last five days of the year).
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