The Gift of Nowrouz By Mehrdad Vahdati Daneshmand There is a book available only in ine version in the section of Study on Iranof the Iranian National Library. This book is in Vaziri size and it is in leather cover. The influence of passage of many years and months can easily be seen on it. On the topic page date of 1308 and Yazdgerd date of 1298 is seen. It is sealed by pahlavi library by number 2101.The book contains the following sections:A. Introduction by M.A Mazandi.B. The present of nowrouz (about good customs of Nowrouz).Because khosravi knew Pahlavi language well he has used many Persian words including words in Arabic from and disused words, as they were in Pahlavi language. Additionally, he has applied the word used in Zoroastrianism without any change. He refers the dates to khoday name wich is also in Pahlavi language. It is a good document of Ancient iran. Mr. Mazandi has translated the book Al Mahasen va Al Azdad (probably written by Abi Osman Omar Ibn Bahr Ibn Mahboob Jahez Allameh Basari, the famous historian in the period of Abbasi Khalifs) from Arabic to pure Persian; he has presented Persian current and equivalent words instead of Arabic words. The text translated in Persian is in eight pages. On the basis of translator signature it has been finished in Bombay in Great Western Building Fort No 140 it has been printed in Hour Printing house located No 7 Govalia Donk Roud Bombay.C. There are 24 pages in English in this book it contains the following two sections:a) English translation of Persian section in the following topic, NOWROUZ CELEBRATION IN THE SASSANIAN PERIOD AS DESCRIBED BY KHOWSRAWI But the translator is unknown.b) the major part of English text is to discuss and analyze khosrawis description of Sassanian Nowrouz. This part is as an appendix of Agahainame Iran Lig written By G.K. Nariman. This representative of Zoroastrians in Iranian Majlis It was presented of Zoroastrians in Iranian Majlis. It was presented in one Rupee. From this part of book in pages 2-15 the following information in achived : 1) nowrouz its significance and its acceptance by the majority of Muslims. Holding Nowrouz festival among Baghdad khalifs and even among Egyptian Ghobti.2) Detailed description of related information to Nowrouz is achieved by Iranian writers But the majority of these texts were in Arabic for Arabic was the current language of Islamic countries. Among the most famous writers Birouni, Ghazvini and Dameshgi are worthy of mention. Analyzing the book Al Mahasen va Al Azdad, written by Jahez valten this book is probably not written by Jahex. Some people consider Beyhagji as the real writer of the mentioned book. Anyway an Iranian named isa ibn mosa has explained the information in this book Arab people call him Al Khosrawi.3) According to Kelment Howart Nowrouz was a great festival among turks. Soghd peole called it Nosard which meant New Year As it was customary, they gave candies to their friend and relatives for this reason Nowrouz is called as Candy festival or Shekar Bayrami in Turkey.4) Sassanian court was an example and imitation for its contemporary governments. After centuries, particularly Turkey and during Islamic period India. After centuries, particularly Turkey and during Islamic period India followed the customary ceremonies and magnificent customs during khosrow Anou Shirvan.5) Nowrouz Ceremonies: the background of Spring Festival is achieved from ruins historical Iranian monuments. According to Xenphon, there was the gate of all nations in persepolis that representatives of countries passed through it to present their gifts to the great king. According to Jackson, Nowrouz festival in Ormieh lasts for two weeks; nowadays it is held as exciting as thousands years ago it is held as it is described in magic horse in one thousand and one nights stories. People in Iranian cities and villages as well as in Touran such as Afghanistan hold Nowrouz festival carefully like Iranians before Islamic period.6) According to Dastoor Dr. Vala narrating from Shahname ferdowsi Jamshid chose the season of trees revival be green leaves, vernal equinox and entrance of sun in the Aries as New Year festival. 7) Governing on India during 1605-1628 Jahangir has written several topics on nowrouz in different occasions.8) Kianian considered the Farvardin Day of Farvardin month as kiani nowrouz. This Nowrouz was celebrated during keykhosrow or yazdgerd shahriar who was the last Iranian king. According to this ceremony the Zoroastrian clergies took a golden cup of wine for king. Praising the king, he gave him a ring. He requested blessing from God for king to protect him from misfortune. Therefore king could live long and successful to protect kiani religion and to govern with fair and justice as well as to defeat the enemies. The clergy prayed that Nowrouz would cause fortune and blessing for king. After praying ceremony, he presented the golden cup of wine to king. He said to king live long and drink from this jamshid cup then king took the cup and drank the wine. This ceremony was based upon this belief that everybody looked into this cup at the beginning of New Year, he would spend the New Year with fortune and a lot of blessing.9) Poets historians and tourists described nowrouz and Mehregan festivals Mehregan is as great as Nowrouz in Arabic languge during Islamic period. According to this even those who accept Islam couldn’t ignore the freshness of this season of national and natural happiness. Although Omar rescind giving presents during Nowrouz, Yazid again revived this custom According to Bouhoutari Motevakel held nowrouz festival as it had been held during Ardeshir Babakan. Although we have to approve that Jahez has written the book al Mahasen va Al Azdad he Himself has introduced famous older writers as the writer of this book. Anyway, his articles are considered as a treasure of exact information about Zoroastrian Iran. There are many Poems to describe Nowrouz and Mehregan mentioned in Yatimat Al Dahr Sa alebi.10) Holding Nowrouz festival is praised in Shiite particularly because prophet Mohammad has elected imam Ali as his successor who is the first Shiite Imam and as the fourth khalif in Nowrouz.11) Hamze Isfahani is one the historians that has written several articles about Zoroastrianism in Arabic. A complete list of events in Islamic history that has been happened in Nowrouz can be achieved from his books. Masoudi has mentioned important events too According to masoudi Motazed khalif with correction in Iranian calendar had mistaken almost two month of the real date because he had forgotten to add several days to one year. Therefore this mistake had been happened during two hundred and fifty years. He took actions to correct the Persian calendar. The New Year corrected according to new calendar had been called as Motazed Nowrouz Masoudi has registered many more facts carefully, therefore we can consider him to be the same rank of Ibn Nadim (Mohammad Ibn Ishagh) and Yaghout (Homavi).12) Although manoochehri has composed many elegies to describe Nowrouz we have to rely Arab poets in order to prove that even real Muslims couldn’t ignore the celebration of nature revival. 13) Although khosrawis style to mention the exact meanings of Ancient Persian and middle Persian words seems to be innovative this style is customary among Arab writers.Jahez has observed the exact Khosrawis register of Persian words but writers of later centuries altered non-Arabic words in a manner that their recognition is almost impossible. Van Volten and his European colleagues such as Hosma have taken measures to repair these words. K. Inostransof is one of the scientists with either Arabic information or sufficient information of Avesta. Having this knowledge he has successfully recorded the correct words. Anyway, more correction is still possible. It is hoped that professor Bogdanov translation can solve some problems. Valuable references presented by Dr. Parviz Azkayi in his book nowrouz History & References will be presented separately. Additionally other references containing valuable points about nowrouz are as follows :Kitab – Aghani.Thaaalibi. Yatimatuddahr. Mutannabi Dewan. (Cairo edition) Masudi, kitab-ul Tanbih wal ashraf Ignaz Goldziher Muhammedanische studienAlfred Von Kremer Culturgeschiochte des Orients Unter Den Chalifen 1877Menoutohohri par A. de Biberstein kezimirisk Paris 1886Carl Brockelmann Geschichte der Arabischen LiteraturA.V. Williams Kackson Perian Past and PresentManeckji Nusservanji Dhalla Zoroastrian Civilization Jahiz Le Livre de La Couronne (Kitab El Tadi) A. Mez Die Renaissance Des IslamsAlf Laila. G. Van Volten. Recherches sur la Domination arabe Clement Huart La Perse Antique et la Civilization Iranienne. Spiegel memorial VolumeArthur Christensen L Empire des Sassanides Le Peuple Letat Le CourClement Huart History of Arabic Literature Hastings James Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics PP 872 –5The Cambridge Histoy of iran, 1985, Cambridge, Vo12 P.753-779 &pp 787-9Ancient Iranian Festivals thesis Tehran University Faculty of LiteratureList of references of Nowrouz History & References by Dr. Parviz Azkayi:AJMAL KHAN, M Solar New Year festivals Indo Iranica 16iii (1963) PP.36-49 BUKNICH DDStarinny kostyum dzhemshidov I khazard v SSSR(le costume ancient des Djemchides et des khasaras di URSS) Sov ETN.Sb.ST.I (1938) PP. 118-128.EHRLICHRThe celebration and gifts of Persian New Year (Nawruz)According to Arabic Sources. Modi Mem Vol 1930 PP 95-101HENNINGERJLes fetes du printemps chez les Arabes et implications historique Revista do Revista do Museu Paulista N.S.4 (1950) PP 389-432.MarkwartJ Das Nauroz –seine geschichte und seine bedeutung Modi Mem.Vol 1930 PP 709-765MOKRIM Les rites magiques dans les fetes du Dernier Mrecredi de Dernier Mrecredi de Ane e en Iran.Me langes H Masse 1963 PP 288-302PATEL MANILALThe Nauroz its history and its significance JKRCama OR Inst 31 (1973) Pp 1-51SHIRAZI AGAM KAZIMNauruz Sir Asutosh Mookerjec Silver Jubilee Volumes III, I 1922, PP 451 –457TAESCHINER Das Persische Neujaghrfest wie es heute gefeiert wied WINAdditionally there are more references in Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion and Behavior such as those articles prepared for festivals but their compiling and editing needs another article. Finally it seems that following actions to research about Nowrouz should be taken into consideration:1- Nowrouz Bibliography should be prepared by using Arabic Turkish Dari Persian Indian English Frensh German Russian Chinese and Japanese references and sources. Central library of इरान ian Cultural Heritage Organization is ready to co-operate with this important action 2. A comprehensive book should be authored by using the references mentioned here as well as other referenced about Nowrouz either compiled individually or as a collection of reports presented in the congress.3. international contacts should be increased with research centers about इरान Islam and east and with national libraries of far and near countries in order to compile and edit references and documents as well as to prepare lists of relating books and reports. Finally it is necessary to tank Mr Mir Shokraei who made me to introduce a book about Nowrouz and to present this valuable book to me.