Lighting fires that brightened the night sky, followers of Iran’s minority Zoroastrian religion marked the Sadeh festival in several cities, celebrating the end of the coldest winter days.
On the south-western outskirts of Tehran on Tuesday evening, several Zoroastrian priests and priestesses, dressed in white from head-to-toe to symbolise purity, led young followers to light a giant bonfire in a joyful ceremony.
Iran’s 85-plus million population are mostly Shiite Muslims. The country has been ruled by hard-line clerics who preach a strict version of Islam since the 1979 Islamic revolution.
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Alongside other minorities, including Christians and Jews, they have one representative in parliament, Esfandiar Ekhtiari.
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During Tuesday’s ceremony, Mr Ekhtiari said the celebration belongs to everyone and is a symbol of “felicity, respect to humanity and nature as well as human beings “.
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In 2023, Unesco recognised Sadeh in its intangible cultural heritage of humanity from Iran and Tajikistan.
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Though they have common elements such as lighting fire, the Sadeh festival is different from Nowruz, which marks the Persian new year.