Gahanbar or Gahambars (pronounced as Ghambhar gambar )
Zoroastrianism has number of festival and sacred occasions and Gahambars are considered most auspicious among the others. Gahambars a festival celebrated by Parsi community is marked in honor of Sky, Waters, Earth, Plants, Cattle and Man which are responsible for the creation of the whole world. There are six Gahambars in a year and each of these gahambars spans for five days.
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First Gahambar comes around on the eleventh day of Parsi month ‘Ardibesht’
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Second on eleventh of ‘Tir’
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Third on twenty-sixth of ‘Shehnever’
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Fourth on the twenty-sixth of ‘Meher’
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Fifth on sixteenth of ‘Dai’
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Sixth on the first of ‘Gatha’.
Significance of Gahambars
The festival of Gahambars holds great significance among the Parsi community as it is celebrated as a manifestation of good deeds that a true Parsi must have, here are seven acts of goodness.
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Radih or being charitable
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Rastih or
being truthful
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Celebrating the Gahambars
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Observing a three-day ceremony after death
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Worshiping God
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Building lodgings for the poor
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Wishing everyone’s well
Reason for celebrating the Gahambars
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Observing a three-day ceremony after death
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Worshiping God
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Building lodgings for the poor
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Wishing everyone’s well