Red Tulips and Blue Sky: Zoroastrianism in Colors
Red is for tulips and for the delicious apples we put on the Haft-seen table during Nowruz, our New Year celebration. Red is the color of the goldfish we keep in a bowl of water for the New Year. Goldfish is the symbol of life.
Silver is the color of a metal tray holding consecrated items. Silver is also the color of the cup holding the sacred water used in the Jashn ceremony. Metal represents strength in the Zoroastrian religion.
Gold is the color of farvahar necklace my mom wears. It is also the color of afrinagan in our fire temple. Farvahar is the symbol of Zoroastrianism and an afrinagan is a container to hold the sacred fire.
Green is the color of the batch my grandma wears in Yazd. Green is the symbol of happiness and prosperity. A batch is a large rectangular head covering worn by some traditional Zoroastrian women.
Green is also for the twigs the mobad holds in his hands when he reads the Avesta. The twigs represent immortality.
Orange is the color of fire which is God’s seventh creation. Fire is sacred because it’s the symbol of wisdom and truth. So when we pray we turn to fire to remember God, but we don’t worship it.
White is the color of my Sadreh. I wear my Sadreh every day so I remember to be honest and kind to everyone. The color white is the symbol of purity. Check this page to learn more about Sadreh-pushi.
Brown is for the sandalwood we put in the sacred fire to burn. Sandalwood is called sukhad in the Zoroastrian religion and it's valued for its sweet, creamy smell and its longevity.
Blue is the color of the sky which is God's first creation. The sky represents one of God's aspects, Shahrevar , or the Good Dominion (God's Kingdom). In this Dominion everyone will be truthful, happy and peaceful. We have to do our best to achieve this Dominion in our lifetime and next.
Purple is the color of velvet topi my little brother wears when he goes to fire temple with my dad. Topi is a prayer cap that Zoroastrians wear when they pray.
Black is the color of the coal my grandma uses to lit a fire for prayers. Zoroastrians pray toward fire or light but they never worship it. Fire is the symbol of pureness and truth.
Gray is the color of rain clouds. The rain gives us water which is God’s second creation. Polluting water is a great sin in our religion. One of the Amesha Spentas (God's Aspects) is Khordad or Perfections. Zoroastrians associate Khordad with water.
Yellow is the color of diva, the oil lamp used in a Jashn ceremony. Zoroastrians lit a diva when they want to pray.