Tištar et Tištar-yašt: caelum fulmen, victor siccitate In Zoroastrian calendar, there are festivals that do not simply mark the change of seasons, but reproduce the sacred drama of the cosmos. One of the brightest and most poetic is Tištar, known also as Tirgan or Jashn-e Tirgan. This summer festival honors Tištrya — the deity of rain and fertility, associated with the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius. But the meaning of this day goes far beyond the agrarian calendar: it is the story of a cosmic battle, the power of sacrifice, and how light and water defeat darkness and drought. Significata et significatio: ab stella ad pluviam Tištar: caelum miles Tištar is not just an abstract deity. In the Zoroastrian tradition, he is a yazata, that is, a “worthy of worship” spirit, embodying Sirius. Sirius is the brightest star in the sky, and in ancient times, its heliacal rising (first appearance on the morning sky) marked the beginning of the summer heat and, critically important for Iran, the approach of the rainy season. Tištar is a star that brings life-giving moisture. His name translates as “connected with three stars” and is directly related to light and glory. Myth of victory over Apaoshah The central myth underlying the festival is the epic confrontation described in the Tištar-yašt (Tir-yašt), the eighth hymn of the Avesta. According to this tradition, Tištar enters into battle with Apaoshah, the demon of drought. The battle takes place in the form of two horses: Tištar appears as a beautiful white horse with golden ears, while his opponent is as an ugly black horse. At first, the demon gains the upper hand, weakening Tištar due to a lack of worship and sacrifice from people. The deity calls upon Ahura Mazda, the creator of all things, who intervenes and performs a sacrifice. Filled with this power, Tištar re-enters the fight and finally defeats Apaoshah. Then the long-awaited rains pour down on the parched fields and pastures, bringing life and fertil ... Read more