After holding the Noruz Atash Bam (lighting fire on the roof tops) ceremony, Zoroastrians of Kasnavieh, Yazd spent their first hour of the New Year visiting each other. With coordination of Kasnavieh Zoroastrian anjuman, the lighting of fire on roofs, to welcome Noruz and as a sign of unity and solidarity, was performed at 5 am on 1st Farvardin 1401. This ceremony was followed by a gathering of the inhabitants in Kasnavieh Darbmehr to celebrate the New Year and also visit each other.
Lighting fire on the roof on the dawn of Ormazd day and the month of Farvardin announces the arrival of Nowruz. On this day Zoroastrians perform their Nowruz ceremonies. It is becoming for Zoroastrians to keep alive our ancestral customs when vaheshtuesh Day is ending (29th Esfand) and Avardad Day (the leap day) is starting, to recite the Avesta, praise ahuramazda, see off the Fravahar of our deceased, and light a fire on the roof of our houses. This way we clean our souls, pray for the peace and happiness of others, and at the same time announce to the people of far and near that New Year has arrived.
By lighting the fire and praying to God, Zoroastrians remember their deceased’s. In this ceremony, which is held on the last day of the fifth day, a container full of water, some fruit called “Vadrin,” a few branches of cypress, boxwood, and firewood with the fragrant smell of frankincense and sandalwood are placed on the roof, plus a bowl of water and some dried thyme leaves spread on it. This water is spilt on the ground when the fire extinguishes, as a symbol of seeing off the dead. then, a little of the burning wood is placed in the fire box and taken to the fire temple where this smoldering fire is added to the fire of the fire temple as a sign of joining and uniting in harmony. Zoroastrian fire and Panjeh ceremony was registered in the national list of intangible cultural heritage on Azar 1, 1400.
