Festipath

Jashn-e Tirgan

جشن تیرگان

Tirgan (تیرگان, Tirgān) is an ancient Iranian midsummer rain and water festival. It is celebrated on the 13th day of Tir, falling on 2, 3 or 4 July.

Decorative still-life of a bowl of saffron rice pudding, a bowl of green soup and rainbow-coloured bands
Decorative still-life. Generated by AI. Not a photograph of the rite.

What happens

At the festival, a visitor would encounter people splashing water, dancing, reciting poetry, and sharing traditional foods. Dishes served include spinach soup and sholezard, a saffron rice pudding.

One distinctive custom is the tying of rainbow-coloured bands on the wrists. The bands are worn for ten days and then thrown into a stream.

Why it matters

Tirgan matters through its link to the legend of Arash the Archer, who was chosen to settle a land dispute between the leaders of Iran and Turan by shooting an arrow to mark the border between the two kingdoms. After the shot, rain fell on both countries and peace followed. The festival’s water customs carry that meaning forward: people splash water, and after ten days return wrist bands to a stream.

When it happens

Caution

These dates are approximate: either the timing varies from year to year, or the rule behind them is not fully confirmed. Confirm this year’s dates locally before you travel.

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Before you go

Tirgan — visiting etiquette

Never

  • Do not photograph military or government installations. Photography near them is strictly prohibited and foreign nationals have been detained and charged.
  • Do not drink alcohol in public. There are no exceptions.

Photography

Photography near military and other government installations is strictly prohibited in Iran, and foreign nationals have been detained and charged under national security laws. These are Iranian laws that apply everywhere in public, not customs of this festival. They are recorded here because the observance happens outdoors, where they bind a visitor. Away from those sites, ask people before photographing them.

Dress

In public places women must cover their heads with a headscarf and wear trousers or a floor-length skirt with a long-sleeved tunic or coat reaching mid-thigh or knee; men should wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts. These are Iranian laws that apply everywhere in public, not customs of this festival. They are recorded here because the observance happens outdoors, where they bind a visitor.

Where it happens

Only the surrounding area is published for this location.

  • Iran

    General area only

  • Isfahan & Yazd

    General area only

Sources

Short code

ir-211hr

A short, stable identifier for this entry, printed on cards and quotable anywhere.