Nov
Abangan Festival
The Abangan Festival is a captivating celebration that has, unfortunately, faded into obscurity over the years. This cherished event pays tribute to Anahita, the goddess of flowing waters, and is steeped in rich history and tradition. Explore the enchanting tales and profound significance of the Abangan Festival. Two compelling narratives are associated with this festival. The first recounts a miraculous event when, after enduring a prolonged drought lasting five to seven years, the heavens opened on the tenth day of Aban.
Rainfall ended the drought, symbolizing hope and renewal. The second narrative hails the king’s triumphant victory over Afrasiab, the Turanian king, on this auspicious day. In the wake of these remarkable events, the tenth day of Aban became an annual occasion for people to celebrate the Abangan Festival. Aban, the eighth month of the solar calendar, sets the stage for this captivating celebration. Ancient people held a deep reverence for water. They regarded water as sacred and strived to protect its purity. When water’s fundamental attributes, such as color, scent, or taste, underwent any alteration, it was deemed unsuitable for consumption or cleansing. Even when using flowing water, they took great care to avoid contamination, skillfully directing it through trenches by rivers to maintain its purity.
On the day of the festival, particularly women, congregated at seas, rivers, or springs to invoke the water goddess. The Ab-Zohr, a portion of the Avesta focusing on water and Aban, was recited, and praises were offered to Ahura Mazda, beseeching for an abundance of pure water. Following these age-old customs, the jubilant festivities would commence, following the timeless pattern of antient celebrations.
The Abangan Festival stands as a tribute to the life-sustaining properties of water, emphasizing its profound importance. An essential aspect of this ancient tradition was the understanding of the necessity to preserve and protect water resources. The people of the past had a keen awareness of the value of water, a lesson that remains poignant in today’s world.