The Gahanbar ceremony of Maidyozarem was held on Friday, May 2, 2025 (12 Ordibehesht 1404 in the Iranian calendar), at Yazdani Hall of the Shiraz Religious, Cultural, and Sports Complex to honor teachers and mark a significant Zoroastrian occasion.
The event began at 11 a.m. with Afarinegan prayers led by Mobedyar Rostam Khosraviani. Following the prayers, Armita Jamshidi Kalantari, spokesperson for the Zoroastrian Association of Shiraz, took the stage to deliver the annual report on the association’s recent efforts and accomplishments, as is tradition during Gahanbar ceremonies.
The celebration continued with a heartfelt tribute to teachers of religious education classes, hosted in a lively and warm manner by Armaeiti Kavyani. She extended Teacher’s Day greetings to all attendees, fondly remembered both current and former educators,and emphasized the vital role of mothers as every individual’s first teacher.
Next, young student Rata Pourdehi Zeinabad, a third grader, recited a poem (an ode) written by Nahid Felfeli. The audience was then treated to nostalgic video montages from religious classes over the years, evoking sweet memories—especially among the younger participants who saw glimpses of their childhood on screen.
The program concluded with a soulful poem titled The Image of Love by the late Mojtaba Kashani (Salek), beautifully performed by Nahid Eftekhari, filling the hall with a spirit of love and reflection.
As the ceremony continued, Shahram Pourdehi Zeinabad, a board member of the Shiraz Zoroastrian Association, took the stage to commend the tireless and selfless efforts of religious education teachers. He praised today’s educators for their dedication—often planning lessons for just one or two students—and described their commitment as truly admirable. He also expressed hope that in the coming years, more students would join these classes, strengthening the future of religious education within the community.
During this portion of the event, the teachers were presented with gifts prepared by the Shiraz Zoroastrian Association, handed to them by Armita Jamshidi Kalantari, the association’s vice-chair.
One of the most touching moments came when Nahid Felfeli, a long-serving religious teacher, shared a heartfelt story. She spoke of a student who had recently told her they wished to fail the school year. Surprised, she asked why. The student’s reply struck a deep chord:
“I want to repeat the year so I can be in the same class as a younger student. That way, I won’t be the only one in our religious class until we graduate.”
The story resonated with many and offered a moment of reflection for the entire Zoroastrian community, highlighting the importance of connection and shared learning.
The ceremony concluded with a group photo of the religious teachers and their students. Afterwards, attendees were treated with a warm reception comprising lunch, fruit, traditional sweets and lork—a ceremonial mix of seven dried fruits and nuts. The event was coordinated by Sima Gharibshahi.
This gathering marked the Gahanbar of Maidyozarem, one of six annual Zoroastrian seasonal festivals. Each Gahanbar, or “chehreh,” spans five days and symbolizes one of six stages of creation in Zoroastrian belief. Maidyozarem, meaning “mid-spring,” is considered the first of the six and takes place from Khordad day to Day-pa-Mihr in the Zoroastrian calendar, which this year corresponded to May 1–5. Zoroastrians believe this period marks the creation of the sky by Ahura Mazda, making it a sacred time for reflection and celebration.
