Tajikistan celebrates Sada festival

In Dushanbe, the main events dedicated to this festival took place in the Park named after Abulqosm Firdavsi (formerly Peoples’ Friendship Park). 

The celebrations were reportedly organized by the Dushanbe Administration and the ministries of culture and agriculture. 

Fairs of agricultural goods and handicrafts as well as various cultural activities concerts were organized in Dushanbe on the occasion of the Sada festival.    

Sada (Sadeh in Persian) is an ancient Iranian festival that dates back to the first Persian Empire, Achaemenid Empire.  Sada celebrates 50 days before Navrouz.

Sada in Tajik means “hundred” and refers to one hundred days and nights past the end of summer (or the beginning of long-winter known to start at the end of summer in ancient Iran).  Sada is a mid-winter festival to honor fire and to defeat the forces of darkness, frost, and cold.