TEHRAN (Amordadnews): “According to Iranian belief, darkness, grieving, crying and whatever is born of these are the tokens of evil. Based on this belief, even before Zarathushtra, Iranians believed that light should be recognized and appreciated.”
In the Shab-e chelleh gathering, in the amphitheatre of the Dental College of Tehran University, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, an Iranian lawyer, said that in the nature of Iranians joy and happiness plays the first role.
Dadkhah, who has followed up, on behalf of the people, cases pertaining to ancient archeological structures, like, Isfahan metro, Naqsh-e Rostam and the planetarium tower, referred to the poems of famous Iranian poets, and said: “Ferdowsi combines lack of joy with lack of wisdom. He believes that living happily is a necessity of life, and when Kiamars enters the court he says: “When happiness and joy fades the spirit also fades and wisdom of the mind becomes weak and unable.” Hafez also uses the term “the devil’s grief” in his lyrics. Being happy and creating joy is a very old culture in Iran. Zoroastrians say that when Zarathushtra was born he was laughing, contrary to other infants who cry at birth, and so Zoroastrians believe that crying, sadness and anything that makes one feel depressed is not good and not encouraged.”
He who is one of the founders of the Defenders of Human Rights Club, in Iran, and made a lot of effort to prevent filling of the Sivand dam reservoir, referred to the beginning of the cold and long winter nights and difficult time for shepherds and farmers, and said: “Winter and ice causes depression in hearts, therefore, Iranians thought of finding a way to spend these long nights and short days in joy.”
He said that the reason for worshiping the sun was that Iranians believed that light, purity and warmth should be worshiped and that the end of all darkness is light.
The spokesman of the Defenders of Human Rights Club said that the end of darkness is always light and on this basis Iranians resisted against the Arabs, Turks and other foreigners and know that they should obliterate injustice on earth.
Dadkhah continued: “Iranians made various symbols for the sun; the marriage ring is one of them. The ring is round, like the sun, and brings love and warmth with it. The culture of living happily and creating joy has gone as far as creating joy in the ceremonies for the dead because Zoroastrians believe that joy and happiness make the soul of the dead happy.
Another Iranian saying that he referred to was “In a house where there is sorrow courage, aspiration and motivation will not stay” and said that Iranians believe that one who has courage and motivation will not let grief and sadness enter his soul.
Enmity of Al-Mutawakkil, the Abbasid Caliph, with Iranian celebrations
Dadkhah referred to historic events that resulted in the elimination of most Iranian festivals and customs for a long period.
When Al-Mutawakkil, the 10th Abbasid Caliph, took the seat of power he ordered that no one should perform Iranian festivals and customs. A group of people from Neyshabour started protesting to this order. Al-Mutawakkil said “Whoever pays tax can perform his ceremonies.” He fixed an amount of one gold coin for each person who would perform or participate in Iranian ceremonies.
The representatives from Neyshabour paid 3 gold coins but in the ceremony that they had arranged many people participated. Al-Mutawakkil’s servants asked about the reason for this event. The Neyshabouris said: “We had invited all those who participated in our festival. They came on their own and we cannot drive away guests from our house.”
Al-Mutawakkil was angered and banned all ceremonies for the coming 32 years.
