SAEDNEWS: Azargan Festival: Exploring One of Iran’s Fire Celebrations
Azargan Festival is one of the twelve annual traditional celebrations in Iran and belongs to the group of fire festivals. It is held on the “Azar Day” of the month of Azar in honor of the deity Azar, the god of all fires. In the eyes of ancient Iranians, fire was considered the first and most essential element of life, with water coming second in importance. Fire provided light, warmth, and illumination to the world, and was safeguarded by the god Azar. For this reason, Iranians held festivals known as fire festivals, and Azargan was among them.
Azargan takes place when the day and the month of Azar coincide. On this day, people would visit fire temples, offer prayers to Ahura Mazda, celebrate with joy, and carry embers from the sacred fire back home as a symbol of blessing. These embers were carefully tended until the end of winter to prevent them from going out.
Azargan is an ancient Iranian festival celebrated by followers of Zoroastrianism. Although it may not be observed today with the same fervor as in ancient times, it continues in certain Iranian cities, especially those where fire temples have survived natural disasters and invasions. Azargan—also called Azarjashn, or in some sources “Azarakhsh”—is one of the twelve annual festivals. Ancient Iranians honored the days when the day and month names coincided, celebrating twelve such days annually. Accordingly, the ninth day of the ninth month, Azar, when day and month align, became Azargan—a day of fire lighting, festivities, and dancing. The festival is valued not only among Zoroastrians but also by those who cherish Iran’s historical traditions.
The primary reason for celebrating Azargan is the high status of fire in ancient Iranian culture. The ninth of Azar was chosen because of the onset of winter. Lighting fires and praying to the fire deity for protection against the cold were central to the festival. In Zoroastrianism, fire holds such importance that it is considered divine and worshipped. It is believed that:
Human strength comes from fire, as without it, no food could be cooked or consumed.
Without fire, humans would perish in the cold and severe frost.
Without fire, darkness would overpower humans, leaving them defenseless against predators.
Without fire, there would be no steam power, and human progress would be impossible.
In the Avesta, fire is called Atar (Atarsh in Middle Persian, and Azar/Atash in modern Persian). Fire is the guardian of divine energy and a symbol of Ahura Mazda’s light, sometimes counted among the Amesha Spentas. In Iranian culture, fire is a revered natural phenomenon because it spreads the warmth of life and illuminates the world, reflecting the divine essence of Azar. Fire temples maintain and honor this sacred flame. Azargan is one of the key fire festivals celebrating Azar Ahura.
Many Iranians today may wish to celebrate Azargan with their families but lack awareness of the traditional practices. To learn about these ancient rituals, one should consult Zoroastrians. On the ninth of Azar, fire temples are adorned, and fires are lit. Traditionally, people wore clean, new clothes, decorated their hair and faces, and celebrated with prayers, hymns, dancing, and incense. Families shared food, greetings, and camaraderie. At the festival’s end, an ember from the temple fire was brought home to keep the household warm and bright throughout the winter.
One of the key prayers recited on this day is the “Atash Niyayesh” (Fire Worship), the fifth of the five Zoroastrian prayers in the Khordeh Avesta. Fire, a revered element in Iranian culture, is seen as the life-giving force illuminating the hearts of Ahura Mazda’s followers.
According to the Zoroastrian calendar, Azargan falls on the ninth day of Azar, which corresponds to the third of Azar in the solar calendar. Because the day and month share the same name, it is considered an auspicious occasion for celebration. In ancient times, Aryans living in cold regions revered fire for its life-giving warmth. On Azargan, any virtuous act or consultation was believed to be especially blessed, and many important undertakings were initiated on this day.
The ninth of Azar is a festival celebrated when the day and month of Azar align. It is a festival of fire, named after the angel entrusted with all fires. Zoroaster instructed followers to visit fire temples and seek guidance for worldly affairs on this day. Azargan is a vibrant celebration of fire, culture, and divine light, rooted in Iran’s ancient traditions.
