Ritual Implements of Zoroastrianism (Alat)
NOTE: Many ritual supplies can be obtained from the FEZANA Zoroastrian Shop.
Zoroastrian ritual implements include:
- Garments:
- Sudre and kusti: Sacred shirt and cord (worn at all times except while bathing)
- Topi (traditional skull cap generally worn during prayers) or scarf
- Padan (or padam; Pers. panam, ‘mouth veil’) tied over the mouth. Used to prevent droplets of spit
from accidentally contacting the fire
- Oil lamp with floating wicks ("kakras")
- Incense burner (Guj. lobandan).
- Incense:
- Tradionally the ritual fire is fuelled with sandalwood (sukhad), but other sweet clean woods can also be used (Av. aesma)
- Frankincense (bui or loban i.e. olibanum) is most commonly used as an offering, such as venerating the fravashis and ancestors. Myrrh is also sometimes used.
- Parchment when used for writing nirangs (amulets), traditionally made of deer skin, but saffron-colored paper is sometimes substituted
- Ink for writing nirangs is made with well water, colored with saffron
- Consecrated or holy water
- Flowers are used during the ritual of blessing (afrinagan). Myrtle sprigs are sometimes used for this too.
- 1. & 2. Afrinagans, metal vases for holding the ritual fire
- 3. Barsom (Av. Baresma), bundle of sticks, traditionally tamarisk or pomegranate (per Rivayats), typically held in the left hand
during rituals.
The numbers of sticks vary depending on ritual requirements.
- 4. Moon-shaped metal stands for holding the Barsom (Mah-Rui)
- 5. Cup for Haoma (Hawan)
- 6. Pestal for Haoma (dastag/abar-hawan/labo)
- 7. Ring tied with bull's hair (waras fuliyan)
- 8. Vase containing water for purifications
- 9. Saucer
- 10. & 11. Vases for washing the hands
- 12. Nine-holed saucer (Surakhdar tasjta)
- 13. Bowl to hold ritual preparation, parahom
- 14. Cup of goat's milk
- 15. & 16. Saucers containing Dron (ritual cakes) (dron tashta)
- 17. Knife for barsom (barsom-chin)
- 18. Ladle for tending ritual fire (chamach)
- 19. Tongs for tending the ritual fire (chipyo)