Tracing the myths and facts surrounding the Iranian festival that is celebrated on the summer solstice
Fariborz Rahnamoon
The first day of summer, the summer solstice which is the longest day in the year, is celebrated as the festival of Tirgan. And what better way to rejoice on a hot summer day than to douse each other with life-giving water? It is a day of picnics in the fields and parks and drenching each other with water. It is a day of fun and the enjoyment of nature. It is customary to tie a rainbow-colored wristband called Tir-o-Baad, representing the colors of the star Tishtar as it flickers in the sky. It shows that the ancient Iranians were......