SAEDNEWS: Tirgan Festival: Exploring One of Zoroastrianism’s Twelve Ancient Celebrations on Saed News – Join Us!
The history of ancient Iran is filled with vibrant festivals and traditional ceremonies, each with fascinating stories to tell. Among these, the Tirgan Festival stands out as one of the most significant traditional celebrations. Historically held in the month of Tir (June–July), Tirgan has become less prominent in modern times. Yet, alongside other major festivals like Khordadgan, Mehregan, Sadeh, Ab Pashonak, and Nowruz, Tirgan was celebrated with great pomp and grandeur. Even today, the festival is still observed in numerous cities across Iran.
In ancient Iranian history, Tirgan held importance equal to festivals such as Nowruz, Mehregan, and Sadeh. The renowned scholar Abu Rayhan Biruni mentions Tirgan in his book The Remaining Works, noting that the festival honors Iranian writers. Today, Tirgan is celebrated by Zoroastrians and other Iranians in many cities and provinces. It is also recognized as part of Iran’s intangible cultural heritage, listed among the nation’s official cultural assets. While Tirgan is not a public holiday in the modern Iranian calendar, it is traditionally observed on Tir 13 (around early July) or nearby days. The festival features rituals such as water splashing, “Pot Divination,” the Tir and Wind bracelet ceremony, and the consumption of fruits and wheat.
Various accounts explain the origins and reasons for celebrating Tirgan:
Some legends say that on this day, Arash the Archer shot his famous arrow from Mount Damavand. After flying over mountains and plains, it landed near the Jeyhun River at a walnut tree, marking the border between Iran and Turan. This day has been celebrated every year in memory of this event.
Biruni records Tirgan as a day to honor writers of ancient times.
Another account suggests Tirgan marks the day when the Iranian king, Kay Khosrow, disappeared after bathing in a sacred spring.
Some sources distinguish between a “small Tirgan” on Tir 13, when Arash’s arrow was released, and a “large Tirgan” on Tir 14, when the arrow reached its destination.
Other traditions link the festival to Tishtrya, the rain angel, symbolizing the battle between good and evil. According to these beliefs, Tishtrya takes the form of a 15-year-old youth for the first ten days of the month, a bull for the next ten, and a horse for the last ten.
The excitement and joy of Tirgan come from its unique rituals. Every ancient Iranian festival has its own customs—just as Nowruz involves visiting elders and Yalda Night brings families together on the longest night of the year. Tirgan, though less known, has equally memorable traditions.
Reflecting the legend of Arash, water is central to Tirgan. The festival is also called Ab Rizegan, Ab Pashan, or Sarshuran, emphasizing the ritual of water. Celebrations are often held near rivers or springs, where participants splash water on each other to cool off in the summer heat.
Similar to other Iranian fortune-telling traditions, Tirgan includes a ritual called fal-e koozeh (Pot Divination). The day before the festival, a young woman carries a green pot filled with water and silk-covered, visiting participants who place small objects like coins or rings inside. During the festival, after water splashing, people gather around an evergreen tree near the pot. Elderly women recite poems, and the girl picks objects from the pot, revealing the fortune associated with each item.
This ritual ties personal wishes and memories to the festival. After enjoying sweets, participants wear a “Tir and Wind” bracelet made of seven colorful threads. Nine days later, they release the bracelet into the wind from a high place, sending their wishes along with it.
Tirgan is one of the main festivals of the Zoroastrian community, observed on Tir 10 and 13 according to the Zoroastrian calendar. In the Avesta, the deity Tishter and the star Tishter signify rain. The legend of Arash and the border between Iran and Turan remains deeply significant. Another historical reason dates back to the Sassanian era when Iran faced a seven-year famine. People performed a rain prayer, and the subsequent rainfall saved the country, a moment commemorated annually by splashing water during Tirgan.
Tirgan is one of the most important ancient Iranian festivals, rich with history, stories, and traditions. Celebrating it reminds us of our cultural identity and prevents the erasure of our proud past. Like all ancient festivals, Tirgan carries meaningful lessons and joy, and participating in it adds beauty and depth to our lives. If Tirgan is celebrated in your city, share how it unfolds so this ancient tradition continues to thrive.
