Abstract:
Five days in addition to the thirty-day months among Iranians are known as Panjeh, Behizak, Andargah, Panjeh Dozdideh, and Hamseteh Mustarriqah (in Arabic), and they held festivals and rituals on these occasions, many of which have now been forgotten and we only remember their names thanks to historical reports or the writings of ancient poets. One of the rituals that was prevalent in the first centuries of the Hijri era during the Iranian Panjeh Dozdideh, and apparently was the most important part of this festival, is a dance called 'Dastband', which has almost no mention in Persian texts and ritual books. In this dance, the dancers would hold each other's hands and spin along with instruments and music. In the writings of commentators of literary battles and compilers of Arabic dictionaries, this dance has sometimes been named 'Fanzaj', 'Banjakan' ('Ha'aksah', 'Mahzam'), or 'Narwan', and the connection of these words to 'Dastband' is easily provable. In this article, we first present the texts in which the word 'Dastband' has been used, and then we refer to other synonymous or related words that commentators and lexicographers have provided about it. Given that the word 'Dastband' has been used mostly in the writings of poets living in Baghdad, Basra, and Kufa, it can be understood that this dance was held with great splendor in the cities of Iraq during the early centuries. Since some texts speak of the simultaneity of this dance at the threshold of Nowruz and the Persian Panjeh, the reason for naming this dance Panjeh (Fanzaj) can also be understood.
Machine summary:
Revisiting the Forgotten Ritual of the Dastband Dance in the Iranian Panjeh Festival Based on Ancient Arabic Texts Hossein Imanian 1, Assistant Professor of Arabic Language and Literature Department, University of Kashan Abstract Five days beyond the thirty-day months were known to Iranians by names such as Panjeh, Behizak, Andargah, Panjeh-ye Dozdideh, and Khamsat Mustarriqah (in Arabic), and they held celebrations and rituals on these occasions, many of which have now been forgotten and we only remember them thanks to historical reports or the poems of ancient poets.
Given that the word Dastband has been mostly used in the poems of poets residing in Baghdad, Basra, and Kufa, it can be understood that this dance was held with great splendor in the cities of Iraq during the first centuries, and since some texts speak of the simultaneity of this dance on the eve of Nowruz and the Iranian Panjeh, the reason for calling this dance Panjeh (Fanzaj) can also be discovered.
In ancient Arabic sources, and more so in the poems of poets from the first to the fifth centuries of the Hijri era, an Iranian dance called "Dastband" is mentioned, which is one of the adjuncts of Nowruz and Panjeh-ye Dozdideh.
4. In a poem composed by Abu Muhammad Khazin in praise of Sahib ibn Abbad (4th century AH), we read: (refer to the page image) Translation: Whenever he returns from war, [out of joy] he moves and dances the Dastband.
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