Celebrating the Seasons
Parsi thanksgiving ceremonies for the seasons are linked with the stages in the creation of the world. Called Ghambars, they are held six times a year.
Ghambar translates to `full time` or `proper season`. These Parsi festivals honouring the seasons, because they are responsible for the prosperity of humanity, occur six times a year.During the rituals, tribute is paid to the phases in the creation of the world. Each phase - heaven, water, earth, flora, fauna and man - is associated with one Ghambar and is celebrated over five days.
Four liturgical services are performed during the first four days and the fifth day is reserved for communal interaction. Celebrations begin with a benediction ceremony called Afrin. It is a prayer of love and praise in remembrance of one`s ancestors. The yaztas or angels and fravashis are honoured next in the Baj prayers. This is followed by the main Parsi rite,the Yasna. Preparations for this ceremony are complex. Called the Paragra, they include several formalities which are completed with the preparation of haoma, the potion believed to be sacred and immortalising. It is drunk while anintricate set of rituals are performed. It is believed that, initially, haoma was distilled from mushrooms, but over the years that has been replaced by Ephedra (Ephedra distanchya). The juice is extracted from the plant using amortar. The Yasna is performed in 12 stages by two priests, the Zoti and Raspi. The Zoti recites the 72 chapters of the Avestha, called the Yasna. The fire is central to the Ghambar ceremony. It is the main witness of therites, the object of the address of the priests, and the receiver of the offerings of haoma. Commissioned by the faithful, this ceremony is believed to bring inspiration, victory, fertility and wealth.
The last of the four customs for social service is the Pavi. It is a prayer for the particular Ghambar being celebrated, for Hamakara, the helper of the arch angel, and for Sroash, the guardian angel of the dead. The priest and the faithful pray together during the Pavi.
On the fifth day of the Ghambar, there is a solemn feast, in which each member of the community is expected to participate. It can be organised by the rich, a group of families or by collecting subscription. Manual work may be performed, food in cash or in kind donated, or prayers offered to join in the ceremony. The Pahalavi texts state that if a man is rich, he should donate a fat sheep ora goat to the feast. If he cannot afford that, he can donate wine. If he cannot afford that either, he can give a handful of fuel. If even that is difficult, he can participate in the celebrations by helping with cleaning, cooking and preparing for the feast.
Those who participate are expected to recall not only the blessings bestowed by the seasons, but also the seven main acts that a good Parsi must perform. They are radih orgive charity, rastih or be truthful, celebrate the Ghambars, observe the three-day ceremony after death, worship god, build lodgings for the poor, and wish everyone well. The Ghambar festival is expected to re-instill these feelings of brotherhood. It is said that King Jamshed was the first person to observe this festival.
The Maidhyozarem Ghambar, to honour heaven, is celebrated from the 41st to the 45th day after Navroz.
The second one called Maidhyoshem, for water, is observed 60 days later, which is 101 to 105 days after Navroz.
Paitishhayem falls 75 days later .Rejoicing at reaping the harvest, it honours the earth, from the 176th to the 180th day after Navroz.
Thirty days later, between the 206th to 210th day after Navroz, comes Ayathrem. It celebrates creation and the prosperity that it brings.
The fifth Ghambar, Maidhyarem, is celebrated 80 days later and 286 to 290 days after Navroz, at a time when there is no agricultural activity, in mid winter.
The last of the six Ghambars, Hanaspathmaedaem, is observed 75 days after Maidhyarem, from the 361st to 365th day after Navroz.