Historical and Cultural Significance
Sadeh is not just a festival; it is a deep-rooted cultural and religious tradition that has been celebrated across centuries. Zoroastrians, the followers of one of the world’s oldest known monotheistic religions, consider fire a symbol of purity, truth, and the divine presence. Fire temples have long played a central role in Zoroastrian rituals, and Sadeh serves as a major occasion to honor this element.
On December 18, 2009, the Kerman Centenary Celebration was officially recognized and included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage List under registration number 40. Later, in 2012 and again in February 2019, the festival was also inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Iran. Additionally, during the 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in Kasane, Botswana, the Sadeh Festival was registered as the twenty-fourth element of Iran’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. This registration was a collaborative effort between Iran and Tajikistan, further highlighting the festival’s historical and cultural importance.
The Meaning Behind the Name “Sadeh”
The term “Sadeh” is believed to originate from the Persian word for “hundred” (sad). Several interpretations explain this connection:
- Abu Rayhan Biruni’s Explanation: The famous Persian scholar Abu Rayhan Biruni suggested that “Sadeh” means one hundred because, when days and nights are counted separately, there are exactly one hundred days left until the Persian New Year, Nowruz.