When drought spreads everywhere, Tishtar, the guardian god of rain, battles with Apush, the demon of drought, and defeats that fierce demon. After this battle, the water flows in the fields, and they hold an honoring festival in Iran. The festival we know as Tirgan and Abpashan, and an example of it, is still held in Farahan, and it is one of the ancient traditions of that country. In the city of Farahan, in the central province, the festival of sprinkling water is accompanied by prayers for a fruitful year.
On this day the Faranis wear a bracelet called Tir-o-bad, on their wrists (the same Tir-o-bad that Zoroastrians also wear in Tirgan festival in Iran). Another ceremony of the Farahanis on this day is fortune telling in a jar. A day before the celebration, a jar is filled with fresh water and put on the shoulder of a maiden, who takes the jar towards the people who have gathered. Whoever has a wish threw some small objects in the jar, like rings, coins, earings, etc. On the day of the celebration, when everyone is busy singing, the maiden takes one of the objects out of the jar, and the others take it as a good omen and consider it a sign that their wish will be fulfilled. At all hours of the celebration, the Tiro Bad bracelet, which is woven from seven colorful bands, stands out in the hands of the people of the festival. After nine days, this bracelet is removed from the wrist and left to the wind. The Farahanis do this to fulfill their wish.
Farahan should be considered as one of the important origins of holding the water sprinkling festival in Tehran. But this festival is also held in Mazandaran, Sangsar, and Yazd and has ancient roots in those areas. The day for holding the water sprinkling festival and tying Tir-o-bad differs everywhere, and different days are known to be allocated to this festival. The Farahanis, however, are committed to hold the water sprinkling celebration and consider it necessary for abundance of their crops and blessings for their farms. That is why it coincides with the wheat harvest. So Abpashan is also known as a unique festival for farmers. Playing native games after harvesting wheat and performing the drenching water ceremony is one of the other things done on this special day. Farahanis consider staying home on such a glorious day wrong and sinful. So all the farmers, especially in the Zolfabad (Zolfabad) village, go to the fields and hold their annual festival. In this celebration, every resident can sprinkle water on anyone they see or expect to be sprayed on themselves! Because they consider this a sign of increased blessing and abundance of water. In addition, it also brings joy and happiness.
Another benefit that the Abpashan festival to have is to sell local and rural products to the guests and visitors. In this way, the economy of the villagers is also helped. Farahan’s water festival was registered in the country’s spiritual heritage list in Dey 1389 as a sign of respect for one of the ancient Iranian ceremonies.
