Jashn-e Ordibeheshtgân

Jashn-e Ordibeheshtgân is one of the twelve Zoroastrian “monthly feasts” (Jashn) that occur when a day and its corresponding month share the same name—in this case, the 3rd day of the 2nd month, Ordibehesht. Rooted in the worship of Asha Vahišta (Truth, Righteousness) and closely associated with the creation of fire and celestial order, this springtime festival blends spiritual observance—Yasht recitations, fire offerings—with outdoor gatherings, charitable acts, and symbolic rites of purity. Though its precise date shifts slightly in the Gregorian calendar, it typically falls around April 22nd, marking a moment for Zoroastrians and many Iranians to honor cosmic order, communal harmony, and the renewing power of nature.

Historical Roots and Zoroastrian Context

The Zoroastrian Calendar and “Monthly Jashns”

In ancient Zarathushti practice, each of the twelve solar-calendar months shared its name with one day in every month; when both coincide, a Jashn (feast) is held in honor of that divine attribute or entity.
Ordibehesht (the second month) corresponds to Asha Vahišta—the Amesha Spenta embodying Truth and Righteousness—and thus its feast, Ordibeheshtgân, celebrates these divine qualities.
According to Sasanian-era records, Ordibeheshtgân fell on the 3rd day of the month—hence its traditional date—making it the second of the twelve “monthly Jashns” observed each year.

Significance of Asha Vahišta and Fire

In Zoroastrian cosmology, Asha Vahišta represents the ideal of cosmic order and the purity of Fire, seen as the earthly manifestation of divine truth Ahura Mazda.
Ordibeheshtgân thus includes special fire ceremonies: prayers at the Ateshkadeh (fire temple), kindling of …