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Mehrgon - a holiday of love and abundance

Mehrgon is one of the ancient holidays of Persian-speaking peoples, which, despite all the trials, has survived from ancient times till nowadays. Mehrgon is a autumn holiday dedicated to harvesting, symbolizing the work of a peasant.
On October 18, 2017 at the initiative of the Humanitarian Sciences Department at the Finance and Economics Institute of Tajikistan was organized a round table dedicated to Mehrgon holiday, under the symbolic name «Mehrgon - the cultural heritage of ancestors». The teachers and students of FEIT took part in the round table.
Vice - rector for science of FEIT, Firuz Kodirov opened the work of the round table, who noted that Mehrgon is a holiday symbolizing the autumn abundance. It is a symbol of golden autumn, a season of harvesting by farmers.
Then, Asadullo Mullojonov, the head of the Humanitarian Sciences Department, made a report on the theme «From the history of Mehrgon celebration». The report described the history of Mehrgon and the traditions of its celebration in Persian-speaking countries. The significance of Mehrgon holiday for modern Tajikistan and the need for its revival was also specially noted. It is noteworthy that in the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan «On Festive Days» in 1995 Mehrgon was fixed as a national holiday, which is celebrated annually on November 3.
«Mehrgon» comes from the base «mehr», which means feelings, love. This ancient holiday embodies love for friends and home. Mehrgon holiday is a time of love and gratitude for life, it symbolizes creation and the beginning of a new life, friendship and affection for the native land. In ancient sources the Mehrgon holiday is referred to as Mitragon or Mirtakon. Even Muhammadhuseyn Burkhoni in his dictionary «Burkhoni kote» called Mehrgon holiday a holiday of love and fertility.
Asadullo Mullojonov noted that during the Sasanid era the fertility and harvest holiday Mehrgon, as well as Navruz, was celebrated for six days, and the order of all ancient traditions was taken into account. The first day was called Mehrgoni kuchak (Small Mehrgon), on this day Mehrgon was celebrated massively. The sixth holiday was called Great Mehrgon, and it was a special holiday. Some historians associate the appearance of the holiday with the victory of the blacksmith Cova over Zakhok and the coming to power of Fariduni Peshdodi.
In the final part of the event was noted, that Mehrgon still does not lose its significance and is widely celebrated in our republic as a holiday of loyalty and harmony, friendship and love, unity and harmony, as a holiday of abundance, joy and fun, friendship and fellowship.

Hisrav Mukhiddinov