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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF IRANIAN WORLD© |
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Sun’s Rebirth-Celebrations at Niasar' Sasanian Observatory
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22 June 2006 |
LONDON,
(CAIS) -- Sasanian Chahar Taqi-e Niasar, near Kashan
in Esfahan province, is one of the most well-preserved historical monuments in
Iran which was registered as a national heritage under No. 316 in 1938.
The monument was used during the Sasanian dynastic era as an observatory as well
as a fire-temple to study the movements of the sun in the early days of the
summer and winter, wrote the Persian daily Jam-e Jam.
In keeping with the Iranian tradition, each year, Niasar Cultural Heritage and
Tourism Department organizes a ceremony for Iranian pilgrims to mark the
observance of sun’s birth in the early days of the two seasons.
Some of the ancient customs which have survived to the present day include the
summer festival which begins with the summer solstice and is also observed in
the cities of Farahan and Arak, both in Markazi province.
Another feast, which has gone into oblivion and still remains largely unknown,
is called ’Lotus Feast’--a reference to which was made in ’Athar-ul Baqieh’
by the well-known Iranian polymath Abu-Reyhan Birouni. The feast may have been
linked to the blooming of flowers in the summer.
Pârseh, an ancient Zoroastrian festival is the third event which is observed on
the first day of Iranian month Tir (June 22) marking the beginning of summer.
This year, the ceremony to observe the sighting of the sun on the first day of
summer will also be held in cooperation with Niasar Cultural Heritage and
Tourism Department and Niasar Municipality.
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"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
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Encyclopaedia Iranica
The British Institute of Persian Studies "Persepolis Reconstructed"
The British Museum
The Royal Asiatic Society
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