SPRINKLING (AB-PASHAN, AB-RIZAN, TIR MASIZEH)

One of the common traditions in Gilan in the past was Sprinkling, which has been forgotten nowadays. This ceremony is known as “Tirma-sinzeh” in the east of Gilan and west of Mazandaran and perhaps, it is the very “Tirgan”. In Iran of before Islam, the 13th of each month was known as “Ab Rizan” or “Ab Pashan”. It was held until Shah Abbas dominion in Tabarestan (the old name of Mazandaran), and Gilan, but then gradually was forgotten.

In Iran, this day is known as “Ab Pashan”. Adults and children, male or female, went to the beaches and played in water. It was an interesting time. This ceremony was common in Yazd, Kerman, Isfahan, too. In 13th of Tir, men and women went to the rivers, carrying kinds of pots, and sprinkled water on each other. Zakaria Qazvini –the writer of “Ajayeb Al Khelgheh”(“The Freaks of Nature”)- has mentioned a ceremony known as “Ab Pashan”. This ceremony was originated by Firooz –Anooshiravan’s ancestor- people prayed in famine and hunger and sprinkled water on each other in bless of rain at that time.


AYNEH TAKAM

Another ceremony which was held before new year was puppet show known as “Ayneh Takam” and done in western parts of Gilan. Takam players –“Takam Chis”- went to Hashtpar, and even Anzali and Rasht from Azerbaijan and brought people the message of new year.
Takam was a puppet like a goat which had a handle and was decorated by some clothes and colorful catapults and feathers. They moved it up and down by that handle which was passed through a holed wood. They hit two wooden rods together and sang carols to make a happy time.