TEHRAN The Zoroastrians living in the southeastern city of Shiraz marked their ancient Mehrgan Festival by holding special religious ceremonies yesterday. The Mehrgan Festival is observed every year from October 1-4. Head of the Association of Zoroastrians in Shiraz, Aflatoun Sohrabi, told IRNA that ceremonies marking the Mehrgan Festival include reading Avesta, performing some rituals, praying for the health of the Leader and security of the Islamic country.
The Mehrgan Festival is observed at the end of the hot season to show gratitude to God's blessings and His mercy. Zoroastrians believe that the ancient Iranians had two seasons, summer and winter. They marked the beginning of the first season through the Norouz Festival and the second through the Mehrgan Festival.
The Mehrgan Festival is celebrated when farmers harvest their crops after one year of hard work. During the festival, women and girls wear white or light dress and children and youngsters wear varicolored dress.
Also, Zoroastrian families set the table with different kinds of fruit such as melons, watermelons, apples, pears, grape and quince. The Mehrgan Festival in Shiraz is concluded with a show of Kaveh the Blacksmith's uprising against Zahhak the Tyrant.
Some 600 Zoroastrians live in Shiraz.