Hamaspathmaēdaya
Quick Summary
Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, originating in ancient Persia. It blends monotheistic and dualistic elements and is believed to have influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
A key festival in Zoroastrianism is Hamaspathmaēdaya, which is one of six Gahanbar festivals celebrated throughout the year. These festivals commemorate the seasons and possibly the six stages of creation. Hamaspathmaēdaya, lasting five days, is specifically a festival for the dead. The Gahanbars involve liturgical rites such as prayers of praise and honor, the central Yasna rite, and prayers honoring God and his spirits, followed by a solemn feast.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.