This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious and spiritual observances. If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.
March 26th, 2013 is the Zoroastrianism holiday Khordad Sal.
Context
Khordad Sal is the Zoroastrian celebration of the birth of Zoroaster, the founder of the Zoroastrianism religion. The holiday is specifically celebrated in India and Iran, immediately following the Persian new year, Noruz. Zoroaster is credited as being the author of the Zoroastrian texts, the Gathas, which are religious liturgical hymns.
Significance
The Gathas contain references to Zoroaster’s triumphs over personal obstacles, family history details, and accounts of spreading his teachings. Zoroaster was born into a family of priests and experienced his first illumination from Ahura Mazda, the highest deity of Zoroastrianism, at the age of 30.
Zoroaster’s doctrine was based on human’s mental struggle between truth and lie, for the purpose of sustaining truth, creation, existence, and free will. The central ethics of the faith are based on “Good Words, Good Thoughts, and Good Deeds.”
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Rituals/Traditions
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- Parties
- Prayers at sacred Fire Temples (fire representing purity, God’s light, and wisdom)
- Brightly colored folk art decorate homes called Rangoli
- New clothes are worn by everyone
- Flowers decorate homes
- Sharing a grand feast with family and friends
- Reflect on lives and actions
- Make resolutions for the future
Additional Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroaster
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khordad_Sal
http://festivals.iloveindia.com/khordad-sal/Khordad-sal-date.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/worship/worship.shtml
http://www.zoroastrian.org/articles/index.htm
