Religious regularity

Around 130 Zoroastrians from India and Iran assembled at the foot of Mt Damavand on May 4 to conduct an open-air jashan and celebrate a gahanbar. Priests attired in their white jamas sat around the fire on the green mountainside, whilst the devotees dressed in woolies with prayer books in hand formed a bigger circle. In the foreground were tray loads of sukhad, fruits and dry fruits, and in the background the snowcapped mountains and white clouds.

Jashan performed at the foot of Mt Damavand

Photo: amordadnews.com

Since olden days, the seasonal gahanbars have been observed by the Iranians who were primarily agriculturists, writes journalist Ashkan Khosropour in Amordad News. According to mythology the wicked Zohak is bound in chains inside Mt Damavand, strengthened when dishonesty is rampant and weakened when righteousness prevails.