Nov
Abangan: The Festival of the Goddess of Waters, Anahita
In ancient times, many festivals were celebrated to honor nature, rejoice in harvests, worship divine powers, and more. Festivals like Nowruz, Mehregan, fire festivals, and Gahanbars were part of this rich tradition. Each festival had its unique occasion and customs, but they all aimed to bring people together, strengthen cooperation, and promote harmony. During these celebrations, people would engage in merriment, singing, and dancing to shake off physical and mental fatigue, preparing for future work and challenges.
But what about the festival dedicated to the month of Aban? Let’s dive deeper into the festival of Abangan:
Two stories are associated with this festival:
The first story: It’s said that after 5 or 7 years of drought, rain finally fell on the 10th of Aban, ending the dry spell. From that day, people named this day the Abangan Festival and celebrated it annually.
The second story: Some believe that on this day, the king defeated the ruler of Turan, which was a significant victory. The celebration of this day became a tradition and eventually turned into an important festival.
Anahita: The Goddess of Waters
Anahita was a revered goddess of ancient times. She is praised in the Avesta and was worshiped by both Ahura Mazda and Zoroaster. Anahita was the guardian of all the waters in the world. The Avesta describes her as magnificent: beautiful, radiant, adorned with fine jewels, wearing a golden crown, and more.
It’s said that people offered sacrifices to Anahita to fulfill their wishes and prayers. However, due to Anahita’s purity, offering a sacrifice alone wasn’t enough. The giver had to be as pure and untainted as Anahita herself to have their desires granted.
The Origin of the Name “Abangan”
The people of that time held a deep reverence for water, considering it sacred. They wouldn’t pollute it, and if the water’s color, smell, or taste changed, they would refrain from using it for drinking or washing. If they needed to use running water, they would dig a small pit by the river to divert the water into it, ensuring the flowing water remained clean.
Aban is another name for the goddess of earthly waters and the guardian of purity in the world. The day of Abangan was named after her to honor and remind people of the sacredness of water.
The Origin of the Name “Abangan”
Worshiping the Divine: On this day, people, especially women, would gather by seas, rivers, or springs to praise the angel of water. They recited parts of the Avesta dedicated to water and Aban, seeking blessings from Ahura Mazda and praying for an abundance of water, which symbolized the abundance of all good things.After these rituals, the celebration and festivities would begin, as was the custom for all ancient festivals.
Food and Drinks: The festival started with the praise of Ahura Mazda, with people singing verses from the Avesta. The main goal of the festival was to bring people together, spread joy, and share food and drink, especially with the less fortunate. The wealthy would open their doors to everyone, ensuring all could join the feast of abundance and happiness.
Dancing and Joy: One of the key elements of every ancient festival was dancing and merrymaking. Abangan was no exception. People danced and celebrated, lighting fires as part of the festivities. This collective joy fostered solidarity among the people, encouraging them to work together for common goals. The goal of the Abangan festival was to protect water resources, and the celebration helped reinforce this message.
Clothing: Wearing beautiful, clean, and well-adorned clothing was an essential part of every celebration. On the day of Abangan, people would don their finest attire. It’s said that white, symbolizing purity and the sacredness of water, was the special color for this festival. Even today, in some parts of the world, people celebrate by wearing white and gathering by flowing waters.
On Abangan, Zoroastrians would visit fire temples, as they did on other special occasions, to worship Ahura Mazda. Then they would go to streams and canals, where they recited verses from the Avesta related to water and prayed for the protection and abundance of water. Afterward, they joined in the festivities and other ceremonies typical of the Abangan celebration.
Abangan was a festival in honor of water, a simple substance upon which all life depends. It’s clear that ancient people had a deeper understanding of the importance of preserving water than we do today. Let’s hope we can learn from their wisdom and take steps to protect our water resources.
