Iran Press/Iran news: The day is one of mourning, with special services taking place in agiaries (fire temples). These services include prayers, lectures and discussions about the life and works of the prophet.
According to Iran Press, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted in commemoration of Zarthost no deeso and said, "The great Iranian Prophet, the composer of the Gathas & founder of principles of good thoughts, good words, good deeds."
Zoroastrianism was founded by the Prophet Zoroaster (or Zarathustra) in ancient Iran approximately 3500 years ago. The precise date of the founding of Zoroastrianism is uncertain.
Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest known monolithic religions and, contrary to some misperceptions, fire only represents purity and the brightness of God in its belief system. Documents indicate that Zoroastrians initially did not have fire temples and they normally prayed at homes or on top of the hills.
The tradition of fire temples originates from the times when Iranian communities developed fire houses to keep fire burning for everyday uses. In this way, people did not have to make fire separately and could take the fire they needed from fire houses.
The fire houses finally turned into an essential part of Zoroastrian communities called Astash Kadeh or Atashgah and they gradually served multiple community purposes, including as places of worship, courts, educational centers and health clinics.
The construction of fire temples flourished during the Sassanian dynasty (224 to 651 AD) during which Zoroastrianism was announced as the official religion of the Persian Empire.
Nowadays, most of the world’s active fire temples are located in India which is home to the world’s largest Zoroastrian community.
Meanwhile, the Zoroastrians in Iran, who mainly live in the central provinces of Yazd, Esfahan, Tehran and the southern province of Kerman, still have their own fire temples where they perform their religious rituals.101
