Mithra or Mehr was one of the central deities in the pantheon of ancient Iranian religions. This deity force originates in pre-Zoroastrian beliefs among the Indo-Iranian peoples of the northern Iranian plateau. The ancient Iranian calendars were closely connected with natural phenomena and seasonal alterations. Different celestial beings, each with distinct attributes and responsibilities, were associated with each day of the month. In Zoroastrianism, these deities are called 'Izads' and are subordinate to the Amesha Spentas, archangels assisting Ahura Mazda in creation.
A day that happened to coincide with the title of one of the months in the ancient Iranian calendar, they displayed elements of celebration. Similarly, the sixteenth day of the month of Mehr, following the name of the deity Mehr, is celebrated with the great festival of Mehregen. This festival, a particularly ancient Iranian celebration, honored Mehr, the divine embodiment of light, justice, and covenant, being of great importance. Mehregen was one of the central festivals celebrated across the Achaemenid and Sassanian empires, surpassing Nowruz in such significance. The Iranians erected many temples to Mehr, where they conducted rituals and prayers. To prove their loyalty and to pray for a favor from the deity, they put on masks in the shape of lions, eagles, and hawks. There also exist quite verifiable approaches whereby Mithras can be traced to Vedic beliefs. The ancient Sanskrit texts, particularly the Vedas, a collection of sacred hymns, allude to the significance of Mithras. Compiling between 1500 and 2000 B.C., the Vedas consist of four main collectives: Rigveda (hymns), Yajurveda (sacrificial formulas), Samaveda (chants), and Atharvaveda (additional hymns). Rigveda, the oldest of these, illustrates the importance of this deity, worshiped by ancient Iranians (Indo-Iranians), Indians, and the Indo-Aryans. Although Mithras was venerated maximally on a yearly basis, the Zoroastrian calendar implies a certain date upon which his celebration took place.
With the fall of the Sasanian empire and the advent of Islam to Iranian territories led to a slow but steady transformation by the new culture on the customs and rituals at the local and national levels. Yet, these changes could not extinguish the ancient Persian festivals such as Nowruz, Mehregan, Yalda, and Sadeh. While all was changing, the ancient holidays of Nowruz, Mehregan, Yalda, and Sadeh continued to thrive. Even Islamic rulers continued to celebrate these traditions, as historical records indicate that they were so deeply rooted in Iranian society.
However, with the advant of the Zoroastrianism and the teachings of Zoroaster, Ahura Mazda who was proclaimed as the supreme deity, the status of Mehr was changed to that of a divine being created by Ahura Mazda. But the influence of the Magi over the centuries led to reintroduction of Mithra into the sources of Zoroastrian religion as the 'yazata' (deity) Mithra, to an even higher status. The Avesta's "Yasht of Mithra" testifies that Mithra was created as the equal, in worthiness of praise and worship, as the Ahura Mazda, given immense power and ability. Blessings, comfort, and peace come from Mithra for the homes, and the countries. He’s someone people respect and seek blessings from. Omniscient and omnipotent; he has a thousand eyes. He’s the adversary of all Mithra is harmed by, he’s overseeing all covenants and contracts with the people, he’s the one who contradicts all covenants and contracts, he’s the one that oversees all covenants and contracts. Those with good thoughts he supports. Mithra is inhabited with incredible discernment, and he never deceives a liar. He sleeps not but guards moves Ahura Mazda's creation. "Extracted from the Gathas, the Avesta's Mehr Yasht is one of the 21 Yashts and therefore considered amongst the most important ones. 'Yasht' means 'worship' or 'adoration'.
Once, Mehregen had been revered like Nowruz and Yalda throughout Iran, but nowadays, it is observed mostly in Zoroastrian communities. Even today, Mehregan continues to be celebrated in Yazd, Ardakan, Kerman, Isfahan, and Shiraz, which could boast of having Zoroastrian populations. Even in Tehran, Zoroastrians come together to celebrate out in the open the occasion of this ancient festival. Similar to Nowruz haft-sin, Zoroastrians spread out a special table with symbolic items and celebrate Mehregan. This table consists of the following items: water, pomegranate, rose, mirror, and rosewater spray. A special sweet, "lorg" is prepared for the occasion. During Mehregan, Zoroastrians gather to visit fire temples and places of worship, see each other, and eat traditional foods. Welcoming guests with a mirror and rosewater was one of Mehregan’s customs. Rosewater is poured on the guest's hands, who is then presented with a mirror for the occasion.
Then the host hands the guest a gift of nuts and seeds. One guest recites the names of deceased ancestors and asks for their souls. Traditional music and games in Mehregan, recitations of the Shahnameh, and theatrical performances are enjoyed during the celebrations of the Zoroastrians. In addition, the participants are provided with lectures on the history and meaning of the festival. In the ancient Iranian and Zoroastrian calendars, each year consisted of two major seasons a prolonged summer and a prolonged winter. The long summer started with Nowruz, a time of warmth, and the long winter began with Mehrgan, denoting the coming of cold. The festival of Mehregan in Iran is under consideration by UNESCO for World Heritage status.
This article is based on an exclusive interview with Mr. Hamid Nabatchiyan and is supported by reliable research sources.
Mr. Hamid Nabatchiyan, who was born in Zanjan-Iran (1964), continues to reside in the city." While serving in various roles within the provincial organization for Management and Planning, he contributed greatly to the cultural and artistic expansion of Zanjan; he has also, as Secretary of the Tourism Committee and the Culture and Arts Committee, advanced the cause of the region's cultural heritage. Post-retirement, Nabatian remains very much engaged in cultural research, oriented toward the local community of Zanjan and Iran's traditional ceremonies; he holds university degrees in social sciences, history of religions, and mysticism and is working on his Ph.D. in Islamic mysticism.
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This article was contributed by Mr. Akbar Karimi, the international reporter for Arirang Culture Connect and the Founder and Managing Director of the Samte Ganjineye Ghoghnoos Cultural-Artistic Institute in Iran. His leadership in preserving and promoting Iranian intangible cultural heritage, along with his extensive experience in cultural-artistic research and his active participation in international forums such as UNESCO and ICCN, enriches his contributions to the global cultural dialogue.
Translated by: Mr. Hamid Yari
Sources of The Mehr Celebration photos: https://amordadnews.com & https://www.karnaval.ir
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