Today is the holy day of Ormazd and month of Esfand of the year 3759 of Zoroastrian calendar, public porseh in honor of the memory of the martyrs of Iran, Monday, the 15th of Bahman of 1400 official solar calendar, and February 14, 2022 AD
Today is the anniversary of the massacre of Iranians by the Arabs in Nahavand. 1380 years ago, on this day, February 14, 642 AD, in the invasion of Iran by the Arabs, a battle took place in the mountainous areas near Nahavand, Hamedan, Iran. A brutal and bloody 3-day war in which numerous of our ancestors were killed.
After the defeat of the Iranian army, the Arab soldiers entered the city and started killing and looting. The people of Nahavand became a wall against the enemy, but they had to accept defeat at the end. Everything fell into the hands of the invaders. After Nahavand, Hamedan was not safe either. After the defeat of the western Iranian army in the Nahavand war, the path was opened for the Arabs to attack the central cities of Iran.
On Ormazd day in month of Esfand, we commemorate the lives of thousands who died defending Iranian borders, which are now part of this sacred land. Blessed be the holy fravahar of the defenders of the name of Iran, its glory, its prosperity and freedom. Zoroastrians hold a public porseh in memory of the deceased. They believe that a large group of ancient Iranians sacrificed their lives to protect their religious and patriotic values on such a day. The first day of the Zoroastrian month of Tir, equal to 29th of Khordad, and the first day of the Zoroastrian month of Tir, equal to 25th of Bahman, in the solar calendar, are observed as public memorial days.
In the big cities, on the morning of the public porseh, Zoroastrians go to the fire temple hall of their residence, where a ceremony is held by the Zoroastrian association or the religious institution of that city and Avesta is recited. The ceremony is attended by families whose members have passed away a year ago. Other Zoroastrians also participate in this ceremony to honor the memory of the virtuous and the good deeds of the dead in the material world. Some of them, especially Zoroastrian women, bring green leaves of the myrtle and frankincense, and place them on the corner of the table.
On the table, a table cloth is spread, on which a late of fruit, a try full of “lork” (dried fruit and nuts), a bowl containing ground coffee, a bit of chick pea flour, some sugar and a little cardamom powder, another bowl containing candy crystals are placed. There is also a firebox on the table and the fire is constantly fed with sandalwood and incense during the ceremony, to make the air fragrant.
Zoroastrians participate in the public porseh from the first hour of the day, each picking up some coffee or candy crystal. In this ceremony, the mobeds sing a part of the Gatha, and the religious speakers remind the people to follow them by reading some parts of the message of Zoroaster. Later in the day, people visit the tombs of the dead. The mobeds stand next to the table of lork and by praying the Afringan Dehman, send tribute to the souls of all the dead. In Zoroastrian towns and villages, public porseh are held from morning to noon in the homes of those who passed away a year ago.
Today, Ormazd Day is the first day of the Zoroastrian month. Ormazd or Hormoz is the name of God in Zoroastrianism. Ahuramazda, the god of life and wisdom, is the great and wise creator. Ahuramzada is the sole God. In his conversation with Ahuramazda, Ashu Zarathushtra get to the point where he sees himself as the messenger of the “ashuie” path, which is the same as the “Ahuraie” path, and introduces this knowledge to the people. This day is full of divine blessings and is considered as a great day.
Ahuramazda (in Avestan Mazda Ahura. “Mazda Ahura”) with the names: Ahura, Ormazd, Hormazd, Ormuzd, Hormuz, and Hormuz is the name of the creator of goodness and the father and the lord of all existence. Ormazd is one of the names of God of ancient Iranians and Zoroastrians; he is the creator of the earth, the universe and all creatures. He has also created the Ameshaspands and Izads and has given them the same power, knowledge, goodness, truthfulness and holiness.
Ahuramazda is the creator of the world. Zoroastrians worship Ahura Mazda. Ahuramazda is the creator and judge of all material and spiritual things, the creator of light and darkness, and the founder of the order of existence (Asha). He has created everything by thought. In Hormozdyasht, sixty good attributes are given to Ahura Mazda. He also has the following six superior qualities in Zoroastrianism:
Sepanta Mino means the holiest soul, Xshatra Vairya, the modern dialect of Shahrivar, meaning prince and king to be chosen, is Sepanta Armaiti, meaning holy piousness. Hortat, in modern times, means comprehensiveness and accessibility, and Hortat means immortality and immortality. He is the essence of truth and correctness and the law of God and purity. It also means humility. These attributes are called Amshaspands in Zoroastrianism, and the foundations of perfection in Zoroastrian religion to reach enlightenment are endless. Of these seven Amshaspandans, seven stages of love and seven heavens and seven Khans of Esfandiar and seven Khans of Rostam and seven seas and seven countries have been adapted.
