Mehregan Celebration: Mithra and Autumn Festival
Mehregan is an ancient Zoroastrian and Iranian festival dating back to thousands years ago; as a multi-facet celebration, Mehregan was held in honor of Mithra or Mehr, an ancient god, and in honor of autumn, the time of harvest.
The origins of Mehregan
Mehregan is a name-day feast in Zoroastrain calender. Zoroastrains celebrated festivals when the name of the day coincided with the name of the month. Mehregan celebration corresponds to Mehr day, 8th of October or 16th of Mehr in Iranian calendar that is the 7th month in Persian calendar and the first month of autumn. In ancient Iran, Mithra or Mehr was the epitome of love, light, knowledge and commitment; he was also believed to be the protector of green fields and the destroyer of drought and famine. In addition, the god of Mehr or Mithra symbolized the sun since the first rise of the sun at dawn is associated with Mithra. Having had such a deep faith in this issue, Zoroastrians celebrated Mehregan in honor of Mehr god who brought them love and friendship.
Mehregan is also celebrated as a festival of autumn when the time for harvesting their crops arrived. Ancient Iranians considered Mehhregan as their second important festival after Nowruz; due to their harsh living conditions, they divided the year into two seasons, spring as the beginning of warm weather and autumn as the beginning of cold weather, so they celebrated Nowruz to welcome spring and Mehregan to welcome winter. Mehregan is an autumn festival, often compared with Thanks giving, that marks the harvesting season; it is the celebration of the sun to welcome the winter ahead. Besides being a harvest festival, Mehregan was the time when taxes were collected, traces of which can be seen in Persepolis site. People from different parts of Persian Empire brought gifts to the Achaemenes kings; wealthy people brought silver and gold coins, warriors brought horses as gifts or taxes, in return, the royal court helped the gift-givers in time of difficulty by handing them twice the amount they paid. Generally, Mehregan was a day of generosity and friendship, so wealthy people did some charity works and helped the poor. This tradition was even observed in Sassanid era. Although Mehregan lost its populaity after Mongo; invasion of Iran,
Zoroastrians living in Yazd and Kerman still celebrate this festival.
Mehregan in Mythology
Mehregan is associated with victory of right over wrong and freedom over tyranny. According to the great Persian poet "Ferdowsi", Mehregan is the day when freedom was endowed to ancient Iranians after long years of tyranny. Kaveh, a mythological hero put an end to the dictatorship of a cruel king called zahak who reigned over the country for long years and was the symbol of tyranny who destroyed wisdom and justice. Having lost his sons as a result of Zahak's tyranny, Kaveh led an uprising against Zahak that resulted in zahak's downfall. According to legends, on this day, some gods came down to earth to help Kaveh and his followers chain Zahak to mount Damavand, where he died six days later; the death of Zahak heralded a new beginning filled with hope and light for Iranians.
How is Mehregan celebrated today?
A lavishly- decorated table with a violet table cloth is laid, on which the Zoroastrian set holy scripture Avesta, an incense burner, a mirror for self-reflection, water as a source of light, fruits particularly pomegranates and apples, sweets, nuts and espand (rue) to be thrown on the flames. The Mobed recites some prayers and delivers a talk on this occasion. After eating food, participants dance to the tune of the traditional music.
