Yazd:Zoroastrians in Yazd Province gathered on Friday to celebrate Mehregan, an ancient Iranian festival. Ceremonies took place in Yazd city, Taft, and Sharifabad in Ardakan, in addition to events in Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Kerman provinces.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Mehregan is traditionally considered the second most important festival after Nowruz in the ancient Iranian calendar. While Nowruz marked the start of summer, Mehregan is associated with the onset of winter. The festival holds astronomical, historical, and religious significance and is linked to Iranian legends such as the victory of Kaveh the Blacksmith over the tyrant Zahhak and the enthronement of Fereydun.

Rostam Kavusianzadeh, a Zoroastrian mobad in Yazd, explained that ancient Iranian festivals were not just celebrations but also reflected seasonal cycles and promoted ethical, spiritual, and civic ideals. He emphasized that Mehregan, together with Nowruz, forms a foundation of Iranian culture, symbolizing gratitude for the earth's fertility, and values such as fidelity, light, justice, and law.

The Mehregan ceremony includes the recitation of the Gathas and prayers, speeches, the Gahanbar ritual, and readings from the Shahnameh and works by renowned poets like Hafez, Saadi, and Rumi. It also features poetry exchanges and the setting of the Mehregan table. Globally, there are around 150,000 Zoroastrians, with approximately 30,000 residing in Iran and about 6,000 in Yazd Province.