Sadeh Festival: The Victory of Light Against Darkness

Nestled within the rich tapestry of Zoroastrian heritage, the Sadeh festival is marked every year in Iran on January 30, despite numerous restrictions and prohibitions imposed by the authorities. 

The traditional ancient celebration, in which fire is used to defeat the forces of darkness and cold, is commemorated across the country. 

But in the southeastern city of Kerman, the Sadeh festival stood out as one of the most intense and emotionally charged events. 

In the not-so-distant past, people even brought ashes from the Sadeh fire to their homes, believing it would bring blessings and prosperity upon their businesses.

According to organizers, the festival was held in the city for over 200 uninterrupted years, and at a fixed location for at least 80 years. 

Just a few years ago, news agencies hailed the celebrations in Kerman as the "biggest Sadeh festival in the world."

In recent years, however, the government has curtailed the festival by exerting pressure. 

This year, it was initially canceled after a twin bombing killed nearly 100 people in the city, but Zoroastrian media later reported that the festivities would be limited and held online. 

The moves came after UNESCO last year inscribed Sadeh on its List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

Despite their historical significance, the festival in Kerman faced restrictions in recent years.

In an unprecedented move, a group displayed photos of Ruhollah Khomeini and Ali Khamenei, the founder of and the current leader of the Islamic Republic, during the celebrations two years ago.

With the advent of a more inclusive political atmosphere in the 2000s, former President Mohammad Khatami told a meeting with Iranians at the United Nations that the "Zoroastrian roots" were shared by all Iranians. 

By advocating dialogue between civilizations, he contributed to creating a space for the presence of religious minorities within society and to fostering interaction with the Muslim community.

During that time, the festival was openly held, drawing participation from all walks of life in a Tehran garden.

Exhibitions and programs aimed to promote interaction among followers of the different religions officially recognized by the Islamic Republic were held during Khatami's presidency. 

Some of these initiatives were organized by the government or notable figures within it such as Mohammad Ali Abtahi. 

Following the death of these figures and changes in governments, the grip of the government tightened, leading to restrictions and bans on previously established programs. 

Over the years, the once public Sadeh celebrations became private events and eventually limited online programs on Instagram.

However, in the face of the Instagram blockade and significant internet disruptions, accessing this program has become practically impossible.

The organization of festivals and programs within minorities is overseen by the respective associations and organizations. 

The election process and qualification approval for these entities fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic. 

This powerful filtering mechanism acts as a deterrent against undesirable or troublesome individuals. 

In a broader context, the Guardian Council is responsible for vetting election candidates and unifying seats in the parliament. 

This approach is applied to representatives of minorities in the parliament or Zoroastrian associations. 

While the specific reasons for disqualifications are rarely disclosed, they typically follow actions deemed unacceptable by the government.

A recent example is Esfandiar Ekhtiyari, who served as the Zoroastrian representative in the parliament for over 12 years. 

He was disqualified from running in the March 1 elections, reportedly due to a protest letter he wrote in September 2022 in which he expressed sympathy for Mahsa Amini's family and demanded punishment for those responsible for her death in police custody .

Korosh Niknam, the Zoroastrian representative in the 7th term of parliament, was also disqualified. 

Niknam had criticized Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati's speech in which the cleric described non-Muslims as “animals causing corruption."