The Joy of Mehrgan Festival

Mehrgan - ÌÔä ãåÑ�Çä (also spelled Mehregan, Mihregan or Mehrigan) is the second most significant Persian (Iranian) festival after NoRooz dating back over 3000 years.
Although its origins are said to be pre-Zoroastrian, the festival became a major Zoroastrian-Iranian celebration after Zoroaster (Zarathushtra).
Iranian-Zoroastrians all over Iran, particularly, in Yazd and Kerman provinces have continued to celebrate Mehregan in an elaborate fashion, very similar to NoRooz, for centuries. In recent years there has been a revival of this joyful and merry occasion, with more Iranians (non Zoroastrians) participating in this festival.
There are many accounts, legends & myths associated with the beginning of Mehrgan. Key ones include:
1. Broadly speaking, Avestan texts divide the Iranian year into two equal parts or seasons. The first season being summer and the second one winter. The coming of the two seasons would be celebrated through, NoRooz (spring equinox) and Mehregan (autumn equinox).
In the Zoroastrian Religious Calendar, Mehregan is celebrated on the 16th of the seventh month (Mehr) at the time of the harvest festivals, and the beginning of winter. This feast would be celebrated for 6 days, starting on the 16th called "Mehr Rooz" and ending on the 21st known as "Raam Rooz". The first day was called "Mehregan'e Khord" I.e. common or little Mehregan, and the last day "Mehregan'e Bozorg" I.e. great or greater Mehregan. In these days farmers had taken their harvest and they could pray God for it and relax. Therefore, Mehregan is also known as Thanksgiving festival.
2. Some scholars believe Mehregan should properly fall on the Autumn equinox (which is the 1st of the seventh Persian month I.e. Mehr), but it is usually celebrated on the name day of Mehr (16th day - Zoroastrian religious calendar).  I tend to agree with the logic of celebrating Mehregan on the first day of Mehr, since it would ensure consistency with NoRooz, which is celebrated on the 1st of Farvardin (the first month in the Persian Solar or Fasli calendar) I.e. Spring equinox.
3. Mehr day is also mentioned as the day when the first male and female, Mashi and Mashiane were created from Gayo-maretan (a concept similar to Semitic Adam and Eve).
4. Legend has it that Fereydoon's victory over Azydahak ("Zahak" in Ferdowsi's Book of Kings) happened on this day. Mehregan is a day of victory when Angels helped Fereydoon and Kaveh become victorious over Zahak. They imprisoned him in the Damavand (Alborz) Mountain.
5. Some people have believed that Mehregan is the day God gave light to the world that had previously been dark.
When the Indo-Europeans lived together (pre Zoroastrian era), Mehr (or Mithra) was considered one of the great Gods of that time. After Zoroaster, Mehr (Mithra) became an angel or what is called "ezad" I.e. similar to a "saint".
The ancient Iranians thought Mehr was responsible for love and friendship, contracts and covenants, and a representation for light. Later, Mehr was also considered as a symbol of the sun. There again, Mehr was considered to be a god of heroism and warfare. The Iranian soldiers were strong believers and had songs for Mehr.
Though it must be noted that, thereafter, Zoroaster (Zarathushtra) advocated pure monotheism. The Gathas, which contain the very words of Zarathushtra composed in seventeen songs, know only Ahura Mazda I.e. the "Wise one". Ahura Mazda is the creator, sustainer and promoter of the universe. None of the gods of the old pantheon are mentioned in the Songs. Zoroastrians do not worship Mehr or Mithra.
Similar to NoRooz, it was customary for people to send or give their king, and each other gifts. Rich people usually gave gold and silver coins, heroes and warriors gave horses while others gave gifts according to their ability, even an apple. Those fortunate enough, will help the poor with gifts. After the Mongol invasion (circa 1219 CE), the feast celebration of Mehregan lost its popularity. However, Zoroastrians of Yazd and Kerman continued to celebrate Mehregan in an extravagant way.
For this celebration, the participants wear new clothes and set a decorative, colorful table. The table is decorated with the holy book of Khordeh Avesta, and a mirror is placed on the table together with rose water, sweets, flowers, some times a scale for showing the equality of day and night.  A burner is also part of the table setting for kondor (frankincense) and espand (wild rue) to be thrown on the flames.

Mehrgan Table

Seven types of fruits are seen at the table, usually, pomegranate, apple, grape, pear, senjed (fruit of the lotus tree), quince and citron. There is also a mixture of special nuts at this table. There are some grains such as: peas, beans, lentils and chickling vetch to symbolize last year's harvest and next year's plan. During Mehregan all families join together for observance and pray.
Roasted mutton is this day's special dish. Some times this meal is distributed freely to all local people including the non-Zoroastrians. Other kinds of food and delicacies are also prepared to be shared by all (including dogs, which are venerated amongst Zoroastrians). There are special cookies which are prepared for this day and distributed in feast.
At the sunlight of first day of festival people are gathered near the biggest spring of the village and prayers for dearly departed are performed. Then people go to village houses singing and dancing. The host of each house opens the house door for them and gives some Mehregan's nuts.  The collected nuts are taken to the temple in each village and given to the person who keeps the fire buring in the temple, asking him to continue the fire until next year.
The greatest observance is the lighting of a huge bonfire outside of a temple just after the sunset.

The rest of the days are spent feasting, praying, singing and dancing.