Today is the blessed day of Mah Izad and the month of Esfand, Nabor day, the day of abstention from eating meat, in the year 3759 Zoroastrian calendar, the 6th of Esfand, 1400, February 25, 2022 AD.
106 years ago, on February 25, 1916, Russian forces occupied the city of Kermanshah, after pushing back the Iranian gendarmes.
Russian forces had infiltrated Kermanshah since March 25. The defense of the gendarmes in Kermanshah was remarkable, despite lack of heavy weaponry. Before the fall of Kermanshah, groups from Tehran, Qom, and Isfahan and members of the National Defense Committee had moved to Qasr Shirin. Following the fall of Kermanshah, Abdul Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma, the then Prime Minister, resigned from his post in protest to the Russian invasion.
At the beginning of World War I (the war between the Europeans), the then Iranian government declared neutrality, which was not respected. The warring parties came towards Iran, who did not have sufficient troops to defend itself. During World War I, British and Russian forces entered Iran to fight the Ottomans (allies of Germany) and cut off German influence.
The Tudeh Party of Iran was a supporter of Germany. This ongoing support during World War II also led to the military occupation of Iran by the military forces of the Moscow government and the government of London. This time, the Iranian government had a substantial army. But by buying off a few senior officers and several like-minded politicians, the London government discharged the army, left the country defenseless and went ahead with military occupation. However, the Iranian Air Force had made a full-fledged defense. (Keyhanizadeh Website)
The moon, called “Maunga” in Avesta is as worthy of praise as the sun. In our mythology, the moon is the creator of the purebred horses. In the prayer “Mah Yasht”, this Izad is the protector of all plants. This day is one of the 4 days for abstaining from eating meat. On this day Zoroastrians recite the “Mah Niyayesh prayer.”
The 12th day of the Zoroastrian 20-day month is called “Mah” (Moon) and every 30 days, forming a month, is called “Mah”. The moon is the name of a planet, which in Persian literature, is called maunga, and in Avesta is the 7th Yasht of the month. Mah Niyayesh prayers is all about Mah Yasht.
In Avesta the moon is the creator of seeds, animal’s breeds and human beings, and also the cultivator of all plants. The day “Mah” is a nabor day, meaning that no animals should be killed on this day and no meat should be eaten. Zoroastrians avoid eating meat four days of every month. Fasting is not encouraged in the Zoroastrian faith, but every month, for 4 days “nabor” is observed, namely, Bahman, the 2nd day of the month, “Mah”, the 12th day of the month, “Goesh”, the 14th day of the month and Ram, the 21st day of the month.
