Amordad Weekly, in collaboration with the Research Institute of History of the Research Institute of Humanities and the House of Humanities Thinkers, initiated the world register of Sadeh celebration.
Dr Elham Malekzadeh, member of the academic board of the history center of the Research Institute of Humanities and cultural studies; Mobedan, Dr. Ardeshir Soharyan, former president of Mobedan Association; Dr. Alireza Hassanzadeh, director of the Anthropology Research Institute of the Cultural Heritage Research Institute and responsible for the global registration of the Sadeh celebration; Dr. Safoura Boroumand, a member of the academic staff of the History Research Institute of the Humanities and Cultural Studies Research Institute; Dr. Esfandiar Ekhtiari, the representative of Zoroastrians in the parliament, and Engineer Babak Salamati, the editor and managing director of Amordad weekly, were the speakers of this ceremony.
Zoroastrians’ representative in parliament, Esfandiar Ekhtiari, began his address by greeting all Iranians and Iranian culture on the occasion of Sadeh celebration. He thanked the Institute of Human Sciences, Babak Salamati, and his colleagues for organizing this gathering. “As an individual who was raised in the Zoroastrian culture, I am honored that my parents selected my name from the Shahnameh and taught me to present a copy of the Shahnameh to my child, upon marriage. I will speak about Sadeh as I have perceived it from a Zoroastrian perspective, devoid of reliance on historical or literary sources.”
He then said: “I have always said that Zoroastrian culture is derived from the Iranian culture, and the pride of us Zoroastrians is that though we have been broken into pieces, we have carried the Iranian culture to a point where we can now talk about the celebration of Sadeh. During my childhood, it was not easy for us Zoroastrians to obtain the permission to celebrate Sadeh. Despite facing harrassment and physical abuse, we persisted and did celebrate Sadeh.”
About the misinterpretations that surround Sadeh, Esfandiar Ekhtiari stated: “Before anything else, it is imperative that I address the Zoroastrian calendar and history; for mistakes do occur in this domain.” Names of each of God’s attributes correspond to a day of the month, which commences with Ormazd, the name of God. Therefore, we are not dealing with a complicated calendar. When the designated day and month share the same name, the people celebrate. The point is that Bahmangan is celebrated on Bahman day of the month of Bahman, and not Sadeh. This day is separate. Another point is that the day for Sadeh celebration is not on the 10th of Bahman, but the 16th of Bahman, in the Zoroastrian calendar. The 16th of Bahman of the Zoroastrian calendar is 10th Bahman in the country’s official calendar. But we do not say “the 16th day of the month”, rather we say Mehr day of the month of Bahman is Sadeh. Therefore, the day Sadeh is celebrated, Mehr (meaning love and affection) of the month of Bahman (meaning the month of good thoughts): the day to love of the month to have good thoughts. It is for this reason that the discovery of ire is celebrated on the day of love of the month of good thoughts.”
Esfandiar Ekhtiari further stated: “Fire shielded us from the cold, introduced us to technology and also taught us to love with good thoughts. Iranians discovered and guarded fire. We have been accused of worshipping fire, unjustly. It has been wrongly asserted that Zoroastrians are fire worshippers, rather than acknowledging that Zoroastrians were the first monotheists on the planet. We bore up these accusations so that we could continue celebrating Sadeh.”
The Iranian parliamentarian further said: “I was taught to give with love and good thoughts. The meaning of Sadeh is nothing but this. We have celebrated this day every year. We did not bother to know how the elites celebrated. We celebrated together with the common people. When we, the people, celebrate this day, the flames of thrill and ferver grow in our hearts.”
Ekhtiari asked, with regard to Tajikistan’s involvement in the Sadeh celebration’s world record attempt, “Registration of Sadeh is a different matter. This day is in our hearts. Didn’t we celebrate Sadeh when it was yet not registered? But, of course, we ought to be aware the benefits that registration entails. Especially with those who are immersed in Iranian culture, we must discuss and share this heritage.
“Tajikestan was the only nation that joined us when we decided to have this day registered globally. Things are being done in Tajikestan that have always been our wish. They unveil the statue of Cyrus the Great and here we are thinking what to do with Persepolis! Tajikestan has supported us during challenging times. Therefore, our message of love and appreciation from all of us to the people of Tajikestan, the government and the country. With collaboration of Tajikestan we will also succeed to register Mehregan and Tirgan festivities.”
Esfandiar Ekhtiari concluded his address by expressing his hope that the deep bond and affection that all Iranians and himself have for Iranian culture will grow stronger daily. He further stated that this affinity should not be in opposition to anything, but rather associated with all aesthetics.
On Monday, Bahman 2, 1402, from 17:00 to 20:00, the Ferdowsi Hall of the House of Humanities Thinkers hosted the commemorative celebration to the world record of the Sadeh.
