Cultural meaning and significance of the

Persian New Year

A segment of an article by Dr. Reza Moradi Ghias-ababadi, a scholar of Persian Culture  and Archeo-astronomy.

            http://www.ghiasabadi.blogfa.com

For the full Persian text of this article see:

http://archive.savepasargad.com/1.Far/Articles/qiyaas-nowruz.htm

All through their many-thousand-years-old history, Iranians have considered their sacred and ultimate duty to preserve and celebrate the nature, as well as their human habitats in tranquility, freedom and joy. Therefore, many of their beliefs, rituals and festivities have their roots in the nature, getting their inspiration from this source.

The ancient book of "Avesta", that is sacred to Iranians of all religious creeds, is a book dedicated to the praise of the natural entities such as sky, earth, sun, moon, water, wind, clouds, brooks, seas, plants and the animal kingdom. With a worldly outlook, and devoid of any hegemony, Avesta praises all the world's women and the men, "regardless of where they are born," those who "do strive for the realization of the truth, have endeavored in this way, or will do so in the future," those "who sow fruitful plants in gorgeous paradises." The chants of this book are versed in the name of a grand God, Mithra, "who is the guardian of love and promises" and "bestows families with peace, tranquility and happiness."

The book, on the other hand, describes those old sufferings of Iranians that are caused by the people who destroy their peaceful and joyful habitat. This suffering comes from those "who glorify wrath and inflict people with pain," and "those who oppress the people and take away their happiness."

It is within these chants that the eternal hope of Iranians is expressed in such words: "Save us from the clutches of oppressors and banish the relishes of war mongers from our communities." 

For the full Persian text of this article see:

http://archive.savepasargad.com/1.Far/Articles/qiyaas-nowruz.htm