About 16 Kilometers outside Tehran in Karaj Special Road there is an area called "bolvare kerman " where most of heavy industry units are located. Between the crowd of the factories there is a wide piece of ground in which the Sadde celebration is held yearly: "Koushke Varjavand".

Whilst there is no existing security especially on weekends or even many of human being around, an obvious movement was going around that evening. Excited crowd appeared hours before sunset and new comers had to park their cars in the few left empty spaces in 500 meters wide streets around.

At the entrance to the celebration ground two ladies -one holding a bowl of water and a mirror and the other welcoming the crowd with nougats- were the first eye-catching people around. People were chattering and visiting the stands that were selling various types of religious dishes and internet cards while live music had prepared a lovely atmosphere for every one.

The crowd gathered around a hill made of wood and straw before the sun set awaiting the moment, the great flame. While the red light of sun was disappearing little by little, a group of Moubeds accompanied by ladies in beautiful white clothes playing Daffs, followed by men with braziers in hand entered the area and went straight to the hill.\par \par After the special ceremony they lit up the fire collectively and that was the moment every one was waiting for. While the flames were kissing the sky the crowd started clapping and singing with the rhythm of Daffs. The players moved round the fire this time with a group of young girls wearing Arian traditional clothes in white and green. There was such exciting atmosphere that made every one orbit the fire and sing the song "Ey Iran" till the flames went low and lower.

However the celebration did not take more than 45 minutes, hundreds of people stayed close to the fire even after the ceremony finished. It was overlay a great unforgettable night for all attendees, especially for non-Zoroastrians who had come to take a closer look at the scene and seize the opportunity to be once again near the spirits of their fathers, hands in hands of their true brothers and sisters.

Honey Sedghi

30.Jan.2004

Tehran- Iran