jahane-gardesh
On the first day of the month of Azar, the Sassanians celebrated the beginning of the Rabi’i equinox and spring, hence they called it “Spring Festival” or “Azerjashen“.
According to the report of the electronic publication of Jahan Sorah, quoted by Isna, the Sassanians did not consider the year to be a year, therefore the first day of Azar month (Avestani year) coincided with spring. “Baharjshan” also had other names, such as “Rakub-ul-Kosaj”, “Shark Seated”. In his two books, Abu Rihan Biruni has introduced this festival with the names “Yom al-Thaalb” and “Absal Wahar”. (Chronology and festivals of ancient Iran, Hashim Razi)
After the extinction of the Sassanids, the “leap” year was considered, and accordingly, the seasons and festivals were out of place, and the “spring” which was held on the first of December, changed its direction in other seasons. (Chronology and festivals of ancient Iran, Hashim Razi)
One of the rituals that was held in “Spring Festival” was the “Shark Ride”. In the description of this custom, Abu Rihan Biruni said: “On the first day of November or the first day of spring, a shark (beardless) man with a strange appearance was placed on a donkey, holding a crow in one hand and a fan in the other hand to keep himself tidy. was hitting To prevent the penetration of cold, he lubricates himself with special warming oils and eats warming food and drinks. People laughed and threw water and snow at this ragged shark who recited poems describing bad weather.
A large number of street and bazaar people as well as some government agents were looking for him, and he was allowed to take one dram of sim or one dinar from every house and shop. If someone refused to pay this amount, the shark man could show him or his house from the black ink vessel or red mud that he had with him, and sometimes he would order to loot him. A part of this money that was earned from the beginning of the ceremony to the middle of the day was the share of the ruler and the income of the middle of the day until the end of the ceremony at sunset was the share of the shark and his companions.
People used to pay this money because of the fear of the government and the ridicule of the shark, as well as the fear of contamination of clothes. After sunset, the shark had to run and hide, otherwise people were allowed to beat him and no one would stop them.”
We also read this in “Burhan Khataz” (written by Mohammad Hossein bin Khalaf Tabrizi, nicknamed Burhan): “There is a festival that the Persians used to celebrate on the first day of Azar, and its name is because on this day, the one-eyed shark man They put a funny face on a donkey and put hot medicine on his body, and that funny man was holding a fan in his hand and was constantly fanning himself and complaining about the heat, and the people were throwing snow and ice on him, and some of the slaves The king was also with him, and they took a dram of wire from each shop, and if someone was late in giving something, the black ink flower that was with him, was sprinkled on that person’s clothes and clothes, and everything that was collected from dawn to the previous prayer belonged to him. He had the king at his work and from the first to the next prayer to the shark and the people who were with him. If the shark appeared after the prayer, they would beat him as much as they could and call that day “Rakub Kusbaj” in Arabic. It is said that on this day of Jamshid, pearls came from the sea, and on this day, the Almighty God decreed happiness and misery, whoever eats behi and smells bergamot on this day before speaking, he will be blessed for the whole year.
Also, Abu Rihan wrote in the book “Athar al-Baqiyyah”: “This day is also called “Absal Wahar” and the kings of Kayani called it the spring of celebration. It was on this day that the news of “Shah Bahira” arrived. They were winged foxes who lived in the era of the Kayani kings, and the prosperity and happiness of their time was due to these foxes, which became extinct after them, and that’s why it was considered auspicious to look at a fox on this day. ” (Chronology and festivals of ancient Iran, Hashim Razi)
Amir Sadeghi, the head of anthropological research in Kurdistan Province, told ISNA about the performance of this ritual: “Shark Vehvi, Kose Gardi, Kose Glin, Kose Goldi are among the titles that are called the “Shark Riding” ritual in different parts of Iran. This custom is held in some parts of Iran in winter and in some other places it is considered as one of the spring celebrations. Also, in different regions of Iran, according to the climate and native culture of that region, the form of holding it is different. “Kose Vehvi” is a type of shepherd ritual that according to the conducted researches dates back to the Mithraic era, but some experts attribute its roots to before the Mithraic era as well. “Shark Wehway” is held in Kurdistan near Chale Zimfar.
No Comment