Tirgan
| Tirgan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observed by |  Iran Tajikistan Canada(byIranian CanadiansandZoroastrians) European Union(by Iranians andZoroastrians) United States(byIranian AmericansandZoroastrians) |
| Date | Tir13 (July 3,4,or5) |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Nowruz,Mehrgan,Sade,Yalda |
Tirgan(Persian:تیرگان,Tirgān), is aearly summer ancientIranianfestival, celebrated annually onTir13 (July 2,3,or4). It is celebrated by splashing water, dancing, recitingpoetry,and serving traditional foods such asspinach soupandsholezard.The custom of tying rainbow-colored bands on wrists, which are worn for ten days and then thrown into a stream, is also a way to rejoice for children.
Overview[edit]
Tirgan is an ancient Iranian tradition which is still celebrated in various regions of Iran, includingMazenderan,Khorasan,andArak.[1][2][3]It is widely attested by historians such asGardezi,Biruni,andMasudi,as well as European travelers during theSafavidera.
The celebration is dedicated toTishtrya,aYazatawho appeared in the sky to generate thunder and lightning for much needed rain.
Legend says thatArash the Archerwas a man chosen to settle a land dispute between the leaders of the lands Iran andTuran.Arash was to loose his arrow, on the 13th day ofTir,and where the arrow landed, would lie the border between the two kingdoms. Turan had suffered from the lack of rain, and Iran rejoiced at the settlement of the borders, then rain poured onto the two countries and there was peace between them.
It is stated in Biruni's chronology that "by the order of God, the wind bore the arrow away from the mountains ofAmoland brought the utmost frontier ofKhorasanbetweenFerganaandTapuria."[4]Gardizi has given a similar description, although he notes that "the arrow of Arash fell in the area between Fargana andBactria."
Ceremony[edit]
Tirgan is celebrated every year inMazandaran ProvinceandAmolin northern Iran, the capitalTehran,Karaj,and the central and southern cities ofYazd,Meybod,Ardakan,Kerman,Bam,Shiraz,Isfahan,Ahvaz,andFarahan.Iranians of theZoroastrianfaith also celebrate this outside Iran, inEuropeand theUS.