Iranian Zoroastrians observe Azargan ritual online amid COVID-19 pandemic

Zoroastrians of the central Iranian province of Yazd observed the Azargan ritual in an online manner on Monday as the government has imposed a nationwide two-week lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Manouchehr Arghavani, the head of a Zoroastrian association in Yazd, told IRNA that Azargan is a festivity observed every year on the 9th of the Zoroastrian month of “Azar” or “Atar,” which falls on November 23.

He said that Zoroastrians celebrate this day by joyful ceremonies, as well as praying to God and cooking special foods.

In ancient Iranian culture, Azargan has been as special as other major national festivities such as Norouz (Persian New Year) and Mehregan, Arghavani said.

Cleanliness, including combing one’s hair and cutting one’s fingernails, is good on this day; Zoroastrians believe that on this day, consultation on different matters and difficulties would lead to the desired outcome, he said.