Jashan-e Amardad (Zoroastrian)

Jashan-e Amardad is a celebration ceremony, a Jashan, performed on Amardad day of Amardad month, in honor of Amardad, a Pehlavi name derived from the ancient Avestan term “Ameretat” from the Gathas of Zarathushtra. Ameretat, according to Zarathushtra, is that attribute of Ahura Mazda which represents “deathlessness” and “immortality.” Together with Haurvatât, it is the ultimate goal and represents the completion of our evolutionary development and the final achievement of our life on earth. It reminds a Zoroastrian that when mankind collectively will live their lives with complete righteousness in their thoughts, words, and deeds, our world will achieve immortal/eternal happiness and peace, and will become completely free of all evil – it will become perfect – like the kingdom of God on Earth! In later Zoroastrian religious history, the wise men/priests associated Amardad to be the steward/guardian of the plant kingdom in the world. Plants/vegetation on Earth is the longest living of all of God’s creation, and hence the Zoroastrians associate it with God’s attribute of eternity/immortality. Due to our immense reverence for nature and plants, protecting nature from pollution and keeping it pure and prosperous for everyone in the world is our religious duty.