An Ancient Persian Festival
Honoring Mehr for the Spirit of
Liberty, Love and Life
More About
Mehregan
Just as Mehr and Kaveh rose against Ahreman and Zahhuk,
we aspire to the same liberty that Persians have cherished 2,500 years ago, during the era of Cyrus the Great (هخامنش).
Mehregan — Festival of Love, Liberty, and Life
For thousands of years, Persians have celebrated Mehregan on the day of Mehr (the 16th day of each month) in the month of Mehr (Libra, Sept 23 – Oct 22).
This ancient festival honors the victory of Mehr – the Goddess of Love, and Devine Contract – over Ahriman, the God of darkness, destruction, and lies. Through her triumph, Mehr liberated Ahura Mazda, the God of light, wisdom, and truth, who had been imprisoned in the center of darkness by Ahriman and his demons.
Mehregan has long been a grand celebration attended by kings, royalties, officials, and commoners alike. Together they rejoiced in the blessings of life and liberty through music, dance, wine, and sharing of the autumn harvest—symbols of unity and gratitude.
Even kings would drink wine publicly during Mehregan as a gesture of joy and equality.
What Liberty and Freedom Means to Iranians
- Mythical Liberation of Humanity — when Mehr defeated Ahriman and his demons, freeing Ahura Mazda from darkness.
- Historical Liberation of Iran-Zamin (Land of Persia)— when the blacksmith Kaveh led a revolt and overthrew the tyrant Zahhak.
- Historical Liberation of Slaves and Jews – when Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and ruled 23 kingdoms with justice and equality as written in his first Bill of Rights on the Cyrus Cylinder.
- Liberation of Iran — to end 1,400 years of foreign domination by Arabs.
Mythical Persian Deities
Symbols of Values, Not Idols
- Zurvan — God of Universe, time, space, infinity, light, and energy; creator of all deities, including Ahura Mazda, Ahriman, Mehr, and Anahita.
- Ahura Mazda – God of life, knowledge, wisdom, light, and truth – representing Good Thoughts, Good Words, & Good Actions.
- Ahriman – God of evil, destruction, ignorance, darkness, deceit, and lies.
- Mehr (Mithra) – Goddess of love, kindness, liberty, justice, & contracts
- Anahita – Goddess of fertility, serenity, peace and water.
Creation Story
At the Beginning Zurvan created the Universe and then the Earth as his masterwork, Rich with Life, Water, Air, Soil, Sun and Intelligent Beings.
To protect it, he created the divine twins: Ahura Mazda & Ahriman. Whichever was born first, would rule the Earth for 9,999 million years.
Ahriman emerged moments before Ahura Mazda. He then ruled the Earth and filled it with demons. He removed the brain of demons, and filled them with his own essence – making them unintelligent, cruel, evil, mindless beings at his service & commands.
When the time came for Ahura Mazda to take over, Ahreman reneged the divine contract and with his army of demons defeat and imprison Ahura Mazda in the center of darkness.
The Rise of Mehr
To restore balance and rescue Ahura, Zurvan created Mehr and Anahita.
With divine fury, Mehr as an enforcer descended to Earth, defeating Ahriman’s army and turned them into black ink – the symbolic color of evil.
Though she did not destroy Ahriman, honoring the universal balance of duality, she stripped him of most of his power.
Meher & Anahita forged a new Divine Contract between the twins. Mehr to enforce the contract:
- Good and evil would coexist in the world and within us.
- All humans would be born ignorant of good and evil, yet capable of becoming aware of good and evil, to learn and choose.
Ancient Persians refer to the evil inside of us as our Wolf representing anger, jealousy, selfishness, dishonesty, bad thoughts, bad words, and bad actions, With the help of Ahura and Mehr , using our knowledge and wisdom, we can bring our Wolf under control and kept silent.
Cleverly, Mehr & Anahita kept themselves outside this contract,
hence, they could gift every newborn a spark of
Mehr and Anahita soul,
love and fertility in every human heart from birth.
Zahhak
Zahhak (Aži Dahāk – The Tyrant of Darkness and Evil is a legendary king and embodiment of Ahriman, grew serpents from his shoulders that fed on the brains of young men.
His reign symbolized the destruction of thought, youth, and enlightenment – opposed by the forces of wisdom and justice.
Today’s tyrants follow Zahhak’s path With more evil power and actions, they are Zahhak in Steroids, Brainwashing from birth, executing youth, destroying education, spreading lies, and placing unwise, worthless, and corrupt to power. His reign symbolized the destruction of thought, youth, and enlightenment – opposed by the forces of wisdom and justice.
Zahhuk was defeated and destroyed by Kaveh the blacksmith who rose against him.
Today’s tyrants – Zahhak’s Legacy in Modern Times
Zahhak is not only a mythic tyrant – but he is a timeless metaphor for oppressive rulers who:
- Brainwash the young from cradle
- Silence and execute intellectuals and spirited youth
- Destroy education and free thought
- Spread lies and religious myth to maintain their power
- Elevate the corrupt, the incompetent, and the unwise
Such tyrants are “Zahhak on Steroids”. They come draped in piety and flags, surpassing even the cruelty of Zahhak. “With religious myths, poisoned lies, and iron-fisted rule, they crown themselves the voice of God — while crushing human dignity and hope.”
But even they will tremble when
The Blacksmith Rises Against Darkness.