TEHRAN — Iranians will celebrate the National Mount Damavand Day on July 22 to attract the public’s attention to the importance of mountains in the country’s history and nature.

The day, which is often celebrated by Zoroastrian in Iran on the closest Friday to the Tirgan Festival - the 13th day of the fourth Iranian calendar month of Tir, falling on July 3 - is now postponed due to the holy month of Ramadan, Khabaronline reported.

Discussing Iran’s mountains problems, finding solutions for those problems, live music and traditional dances and some other entertaining programs will be carried out on this happy occasion.

The festival is coordinated by the Mount Damavand lovers NGOs, Iranian climbers club, and some other organizations.

The legend of Tirgan

The thirteenth day of each month is named after Tishtrya, a Zoroastrian benevolent divinity associated with life-bringing rainfall and fertility. In the Iranian calendar when the name of the day and month matched they held a festival. The Tirgan Festival is also celebrated on the thirteenth of Tir, the fourth month of Iranian calendar when the name of the day and month matches, in this case Tir.

There are various legends concerning Tirgan’s origins. One legend describes how Iran and Turan, two long-standing enemies, decided to declare peace by drawing the boundaries between the two empires. Arash, the best archer in the Iranian army, was chosen to ascend Mount Damavand to shoot an arrow, with the landing location determining the boundary. Iranians watched in hope as the arrow flew from dawn until noon, expanding the boundaries of Iran beyond all expectations. What resulted was the inclusion of many diverse cultures throughout the territory of Iran. Tirgan became a celebration of that diversity.

MQ/MG