Fasting before the Sede holiday in Zoroastrianism

Sede is considered one of the most significant holidays of the Zoroastrian calendar It is preceded by a special fast, which is associated with the ability to distinguish between light and darkness It runs from September 20 to 22 During this period, it is important not to give in to temptation, to observe signs and keep track of important details Sede, along with Mikhgran and Nouruz, is one of the triad of the greatest holidays of the year and is associated with the autumn equinox, which foreshadows the time of parting with warmth and the sun In Zoroastrianism, the cold season is perceived as the temporary death of nature and the onset of the triumph of the forces of evil The autumnal equinox is taken as a symbolic transition point, after which the day begins to wane and a new time comes when the fight against the forces of darkness begins To defeat them, it is important to be on the side of good and light, especially for those who have not yet made their choice Since Sede is considered a very important holiday, it is preceded by a special fast The celebration takes place at sunset, when the Sun is in the first destructive degree of the constellation Libra However, destruction concerns only earthly forms and with it begins a new era of Division (Vizarshi) The degree of Frashegird in translation means the moment of the Last Judgment To prepare for the celebration of Sede on the eve of the autumn equinox, you should set a limit to the influence of the forces of evil in yourself, approach this holiday, summing up the past months of the year, clearing yourself of everything unnecessary For better liberation, you will need to renounce the earthly mistakes you have made This time is associated with the harvest The fruits obtained up to this point must be saved, and the best ones must be selected, which will become seeds next year This is the time when the wheat is separated from the chaff and the grains of valuable experience are gathered together Sede is celebrated from noon until sunset At this time, it is customary to light 8 fires, as well as read Ahura prayers, addressing the patrons of order and law - Mithra and Mazda In Zoroastrianism, as in other religions, fasts are provided before the onset of great holidays, which include Sede The fast lasts three days (from September 20 to 22), when the Sun is at 29-30 degrees Virgo It provides for certain restrictions on food necessary to cleanse the body, spirit and soul People who fast should not eat food of animal origin You should avoid all dishes that require killing living beings to prepare Meat, fish, eggs and caviar are prohibited at this time It is recommended to eat bread products and consume dairy products, which help transform by launching alchemical processes in the human body It is believed that abstaining from meat products helps create a barrier between the forces of evil and those who fast Before the onset of Sede, it is recommended to include porridge from various cereals in the diet, including millet, barley, oatmeal and peas It is better to cook them in vegetable oil The main difference between fasting before the autumn equinox is the ban on eating fruits and vegetables with pulp, which include apples, watermelons, melons, etc Followers of the Zoroastrian faith are helped to fast by various psychophysical and spiritual exercises called ascesis Such practices are important for preparing for the holiday itself Despite the fact that fasting is considered obligatory, some modern movements that preach Zoroastrianism now refuse to observe it The basis is to perform good deeds, but it is forgotten that fasting is very useful for strengthening the spirit and body