SAEDNEWS: Celebrating Abangan: One of Ancient Iran’s Twelve Major Festivals – Let’s Explore This Historic Celebration with Saed News
Iran, as one of the world’s oldest civilizations, boasts a wealth of traditions. Over thousands of years of vibrant history, many of these customs have been recognized nationally and internationally. When November (Aban) arrives, the land transforms into a thousand hues. Trees don brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red, creating a stunning natural festival. But this is not the only celebration that takes place. Alongside these autumnal splendors, Iranians celebrate another festival called “Abangan”, held on the 10th of Aban, with the month itself providing a perfect pretext for this special occasion.
Abangan is one of Iran’s most beautiful traditional festivals, dedicated to honoring the creation of water and venerating Anahita, the goddess of flowing waters. It is celebrated on the 10th of Aban (Aban day of Aban month) and is among the twelve ancient Persian festivals. This celebration honors Anahita, the angelic guardian of water, a highly revered figure in Persian culture. According to ancient beliefs, she commands snow, rain, and hail to fall upon the earth under the orders of Ahura Mazda.
In ancient Iranian traditions, the four elements—water, fire, earth, and air—were considered sacred foundations of life, and polluting them was viewed as a grave sin. Thoughtful Iranians regarded water as the second most vital element after fire and refrained from polluting it, even avoiding washing themselves directly in flowing waters to maintain its purity. Abangan serves as a reminder of water’s value as a source of life, prosperity, and blessing, followed by gratitude to the Creator for abundant water and its protection. The festival is traditionally held near streams, canals, and aqueducts and, like other Iranian rituals, blends prayer, communal joy, entertainment, and charitable acts.
The word Aban literally means “waters.” In ancient Persian culture, each of the four elements was called an akhshij and considered sacred. Iranians believed these elements were the origin of life and must remain untainted. Water, as a sacred akhshij, symbolized power, life, and growth. This reverence led ancient Iranians to become pioneers in constructing qanats—ingenious underground water channels—bringing subterranean water to even the driest lands. Aban, the month of water, thus held immense importance and sacredness for Iranians.
Historical accounts suggest that after eight years of drought in ancient Iran, rain finally fell in Aban, giving rise to the Abangan festival. Another tale tells of prolonged wars between Iran and Turan. During these conflicts, the Turanian king Afrasiyab ordered the destruction of aqueducts and canals. After the war, Zow, the son of Tahmaseb, commanded the cleaning and restoration of these waterways, allowing water to flow once more. The return of water was celebrated as Abangan, cementing its place in history.
Known as Nahid, Anahid, Anahita, or Ardvisura Anahita, she is Iran’s guardian goddess of waters. Comparable to the Babylonian goddess Ishtar and the Greek goddess Aphrodite, Anahita is a revered deity symbolizing fertility, blessings, and prosperity. Considered the embodiment of purity, she was originally a river goddess who later assumed a divine role. Ancient Iranians believed Anahita rode a celestial chariot pulled by four white horses—representing wind, rain, clouds, and hail—dispensing water to the earth at Ahura Mazda’s command.
The Aban Yasht, one of the oldest and longest hymns of the Avesta, praises Anahita’s power and beauty. She is described as a tall, young, and graceful woman adorned with a jeweled belt, golden necklace, and a crown with one hundred eight-pointed stars, residing in the highest heaven. From there, she commands rain, snow, and hail to nourish the land. According to legend, she possesses palatial homes by every lake, each with a hundred shining windows and a thousand finely carved pillars.
On Abangan, Iranians visit Atashkadeh (fire temples) and go to streams, canals, and qanats to honor Anahita, offering prayers and praising Ahura Mazda for abundant water. Celebrations include music, singing hymns from the Avesta, and communal festivities. Traditionally, if it rains on this day, men immerse themselves in the water; if not, women take part in the ceremonial cleansing. Ancient festivals always combined worship with joy, entertainment, and charitable deeds, reflecting the Iranian spirit of reverence, generosity, and communal celebration.
Legends also link Abangan to royal victories. Zow, son of Tahmaseb and king of the Pishdadian dynasty, brought prosperity to Iran by constructing qanats and canals, improving people’s lives, and defeating Afrasiyab, the invader. Thus, Abangan became associated with both the triumph of kings and the blessing of water.
Abangan reminds Iranians of the vital importance of water and the gratitude owed to it. Such a festival ensures that attention is consistently drawn to preserving and valuing this essential resource. Beyond celebration, it instills awareness of prosperity, sustainability, and communal welfare. Iran’s ancient expertise in qanat construction stands as a testament to this enduring respect for water, a legacy sought worldwide for its ingenuity and effectiveness.
