The Board of Trustees of the Arbab Rostam Giv Endowment held the Ayathrem Gahambar ceremony at the fire temple within the Rostam Bagh complex.
The Ayathrem Gahambar, the fourth among the six seasonal Gahambars, was celebrated on the morning of Arshtat day in the month of Mehr, year 3763 of the Zoroastrian calendar — corresponding to Sunday, Mehr 20, 1404 (October 12, 2025). The ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. with Avesta recitations led by Mobed Ardeshir Mehrbani.
During this Gahambar, the members of the Giv Endowment’s Board of Trustees were unable to attend due to their participation in a municipal meeting. On their behalf, Shida Pourbehmardian, an employee of the Giv Endowment, addressed the attendees.
In her speech, she highlighted the importance of children’s involvement in religious ceremonies, explaining that since this Gahambar took place in the morning, children were not present. She noted that efforts would be made to hold future Gahambars in the afternoon to encourage their participation.
Pourbehmardian also referred to a topic recently raised by Amordad Weekly, citing a question shared by the publication’s social research group: “Did you know that 90 percent of a child’s personality develops between birth and the age of five?” She urged the community to pay greater attention to this significant matter.
Continuing her remarks, Pourbehmardian noted that according to the mentioned survey, there is currently only one kindergarten for Zoroastrian children in Tehran, affiliated with the Tehran Zoroastrian Association. She questioned whether the Association is paying adequate attention to the crucial process of personality development during early childhood, emphasizing that strengthening a child’s character can lead to the growth of a valuable and capable generation for the community.
She also called on Zoroastrian associations and organizations to assess the conditions of the existing kindergarten and, at a minimum, ensure the presence of a psychologist as part of its regular services.
Pourbehmardian went on to congratulate students who had recently passed the national university entrance exams and encouraged Zoroastrian associations, institutions, and philanthropists to provide financial support to students in need, helping prevent them from abandoning their studies due to financial hardship.
The ceremony concluded with refreshments served to the participants.
The name of the fourth seasonal Gahambar, Ayathrem, originates from the Avestan term Ayasrima, meaning “the onset of winter’s cold.” According to the Zoroastrian calendar, the Ayathrem Gahambar is observed from Arshtat day to Anaram day in the month of Mehr — corresponding to Mehr 20 to 24 in the official national calendar. In Zoroastrian tradition, this Gahambar celebrates the divine creation of plants and vegetation. As a symbol of this creation, a branch of an evergreen plant, such as myrtle, is traditionally placed on the Gahambar table.
