Holidays and Festivals of Uzbekistan contents

there must be a mirror, which reflects the past and shows the future so that 

people can make reasonable plans. Next, there must be candles. The flames 

hark back to the sacred nature of fire in the Zoroastrian religion, and 

personify the light and energy of a righteous life. The table must also contain 

an incense-burner for aromas and a water-filled vessel in which a live fish is 

placed to symbolize a happy life full of activity and movement. Most tables 

also include coins, fruit and a copy of a sacred book, such as the Koran. 

Various types of food and plants must be on the table, including seven dishes 

that begin with the Farsi letter "S" and seven dishes that begin with the letter 

"sh." These include vinegar, sumac berries, garlic, sprouted wheat, apples, 

berries of sea-buckthorn and fresh herbs as well as wine, sugar, syrup, honey,