It is the second most significant Persian (Iranian) festival and the Celebration is the religion of nature and the sun after NoRooz dating back over 3000 years. Iranian-Zoroastrians all over Iran, particularly, in Yazd and Kerman provinces have continued to celebrate Mehregan in an elaborate fashion, ...
It is the second most significant Persian (Iranian) festival and the Celebration is the religion of nature and the sun after NoRooz dating back over 3000 years. Iranian-Zoroastrians all over Iran, particularly, in Yazd and Kerman provinces have continued to celebrate Mehregan in an elaborate fashion, very similar to NoRooz, for centuries. 195 days after Nowruz is the Persian festival of the autumn. It is Thanksgiving Day for the Iranian farmers. In older days Mehregan was harvest day and some of the crops were sent to the king as a gift.
In the ancient times, Mehregan was celebrated in an extravagant style at Persepolis. Not only was it the time for harvest, but it was also the time when the taxes were collected. Visitors from different parts of the Persian Empire brought gifts for the king all contributing to a lively festival.
Now, for this celebration, the participants wear new clothes and set a decorative, colorful table. The sides of the tablecloth are decorated with dry marjoram. A copy of the Khordeh Avesta ('little Avesta'), a mirror and a sormeh-dan (a traditional eyeliner or kohl) are placed on the table together with rosewater, sweets, flowers, vegetables and fruits, especially pomegranates and apples, and nuts such as almonds or pistachios. A few silver coins and lotus seeds are placed in a dish of water scented with marjoram extract.