The ancient water honoring ceremony, the day of praise of waters, was celebrated in the Zoroastrian village of Mazrae Kalantar.
The commemoration of “Abangan”, a celebration for honoring water, was held on Wednesday, 4th Aban, 1401, equal to Aban day and Aban month of the Zoroastrian calendar, at 4 pm, attended by the Zoroastrian inhabitants of Mazrae Kalantar, starting by walking towards Pir-e Kharman shrine. Then, lottery tickets were distributed among the participants, and prizes were given to the winners. Reception and other joyful programs followed under the “sabat” (the village archway) of this Zoroastrian village. In the Iranian culture, “sabat” has an ancient root; an architectural system for providing shade and shelter in the desert ecosystems. The word “Sa” means comfort, and the second part, “Bat,” indicates a building, settlement, and structure. It is also believed that Sabat is derived from the word “sayehbad” (meaning shade and cool wind) because this structure provides shade and cool air for people in the summer heat.
“Abangan” is one of the monthly celebrations when the names of the day and the month coincide. Traditionally, Iranians celebrated the day which fell on the month with the same name, for example, Aban day of Aban month. Aban means water and whatever related to clean water; and it is one of the 4 elements respected by Zoroastrians. Water is a symbol of strength, beauty, and growth; like fire, it is one of the four elements worthy of protection. On this day, Zoroastrians also pray in the fire temples. To honor the guardian angel of the waters, they go to the streams and aqueducts and pray for abundant rain by singing Avesta Abzor; they praise Ahura Mazda and his good creations. The word Aban in Iranian culture is water, a symbol of clean and flowing water, and Abangan is a celebration of honoring and protecting clean water on earth. Water is the source of life, without which, deserts are formed, and life becomes sparse. Iran has been facing low rainfall and lack of water for a long time. Therefore, the people’s lives on this land depend on how much they value this element. Let us praise water which is the source of life on earth.
Photos by Firouzeh Manouchehri
