Today.Az » World news » Iranians observe Sadeh Celebration
01 February 2010 [19:34] - Today.Az
Iran's Zoroastrian community has held the annual Sadeh Celebration that celebrates the discovery of fire on January 30, the day of kindness.
Iranian Zoroastrians observe the tenth of the Persian month of Bahman, January 30, also known as 'the day of kindness' as the day humans learned to use fire to defeat darkness.
Considered one of the biggest Persian festivals in ancient times, Sadeh continues to be celebrated by Zoroastrians throughout the world.
Sadeh is a mid-winter festival celebrated fifty days before Nowruz. Honoring fire and defeating darkness, cold and frost, sadeh literally means hundred. Sadeh individually counts the one hundred days and nights before Nowrouz starts.
Nowruz, literally meaning 'New Day', is the start of the Iranian New Year and marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere on March 21st, the vernal equinox.
On this day, Zoroastrians light a bonfire in every town and city, gather around it and perform religious rituals and thank God for His blessings.
It should be noted that Zoroastrians do not worship fire. It is a symbol of purity and a remembrance of one of God's greatest blessings for humanity.
/Press TV/
|
|
