SAEDNEWS: Jashn-e Vakhshankam was one of the forgotten festivals of ancient Iran, held in honor of the Oxus River, known today as the Amu Darya.
According to Saednews, Various festivals and ceremonies were celebrated during the ancient Iranian period, each with its own specific date and purpose. Unfortunately, many of these ancient celebrations have gradually been forgotten. One of them is the Vakhshnam Festival, which was held in honor of the Oxus River (Amu Darya), one of the greatest rivers of the Iranian lands. The Vakhshnam Festival was traditionally celebrated on March 1 (10 Esfand).
The Vakhshnam Festival was held to honor the Oxus, or Amu Darya, regarded as one of the greatest rivers of the Iranian territories. The name of the festival is derived from Vakhsh, the largest tributary of the Amu Darya.
According to Al-Biruni, Vakhshnam was considered the “angel of the Oxus” and was believed to correspond to Anahita (Anahita), the ancient Iranian goddess associated with water.
In Central Asia, particularly in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, there is a river known as the Vakhsh, also called the Surkhob (Red River). It eventually flows into the Amu Darya.
From a linguistic perspective, the name Vakhsh is believed to have given rise to the name Oxus, the Latin name used for the Amu Darya.
The Vakhsh is one of the most important rivers in Tajikistan. Its drainage basin covers approximately 32,150 square kilometers, and the river extends for about 524 kilometers within Tajikistan. Its headwaters are located in Kyrgyzstan, and its average discharge is approximately 631 cubic meters per second.
Several hydroelectric facilities have been constructed along the river, including the Sangtuda 2 and Sangtuda 1 power stations.
The Dushanbe–Chanak highway passes through the Vakhsh River valley. Cities such as Qurghonteppa, Nurek, and Sarband are located near the river. Near its confluence, the Beshai Palangon Wildlife Sanctuary is also situated.
As one of the largest tributaries of the Amu Darya, the Vakhsh flows for approximately 524 kilometers from the eastern part of the Alay Mountains. Its drainage basin covers around 39,100 square kilometers.
Some of its major tributaries originate in the mountains beyond the Alay and are known by different names along their courses, including the Kyzyl-Suu. Other tributaries eventually join the river system, including the Muksu, which originates in the northeastern Pamirs. The combination of these rivers eventually forms the Vakhsh before it flows into the Amu Darya.
The Vakhsh is one of the most important rivers in Tajikistan. It is extensively used for irrigating agricultural land, particularly cotton fields, and it also plays a major role in the country's hydroelectric power generation.
The Vakhsh and the Panj River together contain more than 75 percent of Tajikistan's hydroelectric potential, making the river extremely important to the country's energy resources.
The Vakhsh reaches its highest water levels during June and July, when snow and glacial melt increase its flow. During this period, its discharge can reach approximately 836 cubic meters per second, accounting for a significant portion of its annual water flow.
The river experiences its lowest water levels during December, January, February, and March.
The Vakhshnam Festival, once associated with honoring this great river, represents an ancient tradition in which the natural environment and especially water were given an important cultural and spiritual place. Today, the festival is largely forgotten, although the Vakhsh River itself remains an important geographical, cultural, agricultural, and economic feature of Central Asia.
